Essential Tremor Support Group

Essential Tremor (ET) is a neurological disorder characterized by shaking of hands (and sometimes other parts of the body including the head), evoked by intentional movements. The incidence is unknown, but is estimated to be as common as one person in 20, and it is the most common type of tremor and also the most commonly observed movement disorder.

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Brain & Nervous System
/ Essential Tremor Support Group

Medical Marijuana?

alphacat63
alphacat63

Hi all- I'm new here. I've had ET's since my early 20's (I'm now in my mid 50's). They seem to have gotten worse & worse over the years. People are always noticing, sometimes commenting. NO I am NOT "nervous"! NO I have NOT "had too much coffee"!.... You get the idea. I've tried all sorts of "nutritional supplements" and "natural remedies"- waste of money. I've tried a few different Rx meds- Abilify did absolutely NOTHING; Primadone turned me into a zombie and clouded my mind so much, it nearly cost me my job! Another one (can't remember the name off hand) did not help at all and just caused the worst constipation imaginable! I'm giving serious thought to DBS (whether or not my insurance will cover that remains to be seen). But before I go that route, I was just courious if anybody has had any experience with medical marijuana. My state (WV) just recently permitted it. Unfortunately "movement disorders" is not one of the approved diagnosis. I've been reading a lot about the difference between THC versus CBD. Both canabanoids, but unlike THC, CBD provides the benefits without getting "stoned". I work for a living and do not want to be "stoned". Anybody have any experience with this? If so, was it effective? And if so, do you know of a reputable place to get CBD from?



Thoughts? 

irishman61
irishman61
Hello, I have had dystonia for 20 yrs. I am now 72. I was getting botox for about first 5 yrs. I also have essential tremor, handwriting looks like a 5 yr . old but i just say i am a med school drop-out, After going through 4 Neuroligists and always hearing that i would not get any better i decided to take charge of my own care.. It was a long struggle but thanks to exercises, meditation and just being damn stuborn I know only take Baclofen 10 mg. 2x and clonazepam .5 mg 1x. Those are the only meds I take. Except for what i stated above i have no other medical problems.i still work out 4x a wk, walk my dog 3-4 mi. every day except saturday. that is out to breakfast and shopping with my wife of 50 yrs. she has a great sense of humor, i know that because she married me. i never heard of marijuana being used but i guess whatever works for you.
alphacat63
alphacat63
Thanks for the reply! I've been so busy I haven't been able to get back in this. I've heard of Baclofen, but don't really know much about it. And I've tried Klonopin (is clonazapam the generic?) for anxiety & depression, but that just made me feel like I was swimming upstream in a river of Jello. But the two together? I would like to hear more....
SimpsonsOK
SimpsonsOK
First diagnosed at 5 y/o, but only became a real problem in my late 50's-60's. I take primidone (50 mg twice a day), clonazepam (0.5) as a back up to it. I do take baclofen at night as a muscle relaxer. I don't know if the buspirone for anxiety helps or not, but certainly stress steps the ET up, so it may. I tried liquid CBD for a couple of weeks, but it didn't seem to have any effect. Interesting that you are not covered as Medicare does cover it and it is a recognized diagnosis. Movement disorders is a general category, such as cancer would be. The specific kind needs the diagnosis. The IETF, international essential tremor foundation, site has lots of tips for dealing with it in day to day life. Miss using my stemware and porcelain coffee cups, but heavy works better. Hoping you find the right meds for you. Comforting hugs.