DEAR DR. GOTT: My doctor has prescribed a light dose of Xanax for an essential tremor, which seems to help. Is this medicine doing me any harm, or is there something better?
DEAR READER: Essential tremor can be caused by several conditions, including anxiety and stress. It is often confused with Parkinson’s disease, and affects almost 15 percent of people over the age of 65.
The Xanax you have been prescribed is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. I can only assume your physician prescribed it because he or she believes the tremor is caused by anxiety. Other prescription drugs that have shown promise include beta blockers commonly used for hypertension, some epilepsy drugs and Botox. Without knowing you personally, I cannot say whether the medication is doing you any harm; but should you choose a trial of alternatives, you might consider avoiding caffeine, excessive amounts of alcohol and stress. Hypnosis, massage, acupuncture, physical therapy or biofeedback might be of assistance.
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