Drug-induced tremor

Abstract

Drug-induced tremor (DIT) is a term used to describe tremors that develop or increase in severity due to various medications administration. As multiple drugs are associated with DIT it is quite common in clinical practice and medication dose is frequently associated with tremor severity. DIT is associated with commonly prescribed drugs such as amiodarone, antidepressants, β-agonists, cyclosporine, lithium, tacrolimus and valproic acid. DIT mechanisms include dopamine receptors block, gamma-aminobutyric acid depletion, cholinergic deficiency. DIT risk factors include older age, female sex, longer administration of drugs associated with tremor or/and their administration in higher doses, history of tremor in the patient and/or relatives, excessive caffeine intake. It is necessary to establish a causal relationship between the use of a potential inducer drug and the development/intensification of tremor to diagnose DIT. If DIT is detected, the inducer drug should be discontinued or its dose reduced. To decrease DIT risk, it is recommended to avoid prescribing drugs which are most commonly associated with DIT.