Benign Essential Tremor

• Benign essential tremor is a relatively common condition associated with older age, characterised by a fine tremor affecting all the voluntary muscles, most notable in the hands but can affect other areas, causing a head tremor, jaw tremor and vocal tremor.
• The key differential diagnoses of a tremor are: Parkinson’s disease, Multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s chorea, Hyperthyroidism, Fever, Dopamine antagonists (e.g., antipsychotics).
• There is no definitive treatment for benign essential tremor, the tremor is not harmful and does not require treatment if it is not causing functional or psychological problems.
• Medications that may improve symptoms of benign essential tremor include Propranolol (a non-selective beta blocker) and Primidone (a barbiturate anti-epileptic medication).