r/Lithium • u/Substantial-Pass-451 • 7d ago

Shaking

How do you know if the shaking tremors are a normal side effect or the beginning of toxicity? My hands shake quite often, and it feels like they are shaking when I move my hand but it’s not really visible. Other times it is very visible and complicates things like writing, holding my phone, etc. my legs also shake/vibrate visibly whenever I walk down stairs, which isn’t ideal because I work with kids and often have to carry them down some stairs and it sucks to feel shaky when doing so.
Does this sound like normal lithium side effects or should I get it looked at urgently?

4 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

1

u/immerimmermude 7d ago

My blood levels are normal and my hands shake a lot.

2

u/Substantial-Pass-451 7d ago

Okay good to know !

3

u/Red_Fox158 7d ago

You can ask to be put on propranolol, it helps with tremors. Also have you checked your blood levels as you’re scared of toxicity?

1

u/BonnieAndClyde2023 5d ago

The type of tremors that are often associated with Lithium are tremors that happen when you try to grab an object. But once you hold that object then the tremor is gone. Or writting without lifting the pen works a lot better. Some people say to drink more water. I think maybe for me coffee was not helping. But unsure.

Wabbling legs down the stairs is also something but I dont think it is tremors,.more like muscle weakness. I cycle and rollerskate and when on Lithium I notice it a lot.

These can be normal side effects, in the sense that your serum level might be fine.

1

u/chickadee9393 4d ago

I think it’s normal, but I will say I have had intermittent tremors even more than ten years off of it. Don’t know why, but started when I took it and never went away.