Essential Tremor Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Deborah A Burke, MD; Chief Editor: Selim R Benbadis, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 12, 2012
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Conditions to consider in the differential diagnosis of essential tremor include the following:

  • Cerebellar tremor
  • Dystonia and dystonic tremors
  • Enhanced physiologic tremor
  • Isolated chin tremor
  • Isolated voice tremor
  • Movement disorders
  • Orthostatic tremor
  • Palatal tremor
  • Rubral tremor
  • Writer's tremor and other task-specific tremors
  • Psychogenic tremor

Drug-induced tremors can result from the following:

  • Antidepressants, especially tricyclics
  • Beta agonists
  • Depakote
  • Dopamine
  • Lithium
  • Metoclopramide
  • Neuroleptics
  • Theophylline
  • Thyroid hormones
  • Withdrawal of drugs

Metabolism-related tremors can result from the following disorders:

  • B-12 deficiency
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Hyperparathyroidism
  • Hypocalcemia
  • Hyponatremia
  • Kidney disease
  • Liver disease

Toxin-related tremors can result from the following :

  • Alcohol
  • Arsenic
  • Caffeine
  • Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)
  • Lead
  • Nicotine
  • Toluene
  • Withdrawal of alcohol, cocaine

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Deborah A Burke, MD  Clinician, Sub-Investigator, Movement Disorder/Parkinson's Disease Center, University of South Florida College of Medicine; Investigator, Physician, Roskamp Institute Memory Clinic

Deborah A Burke, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology and Movement Disorders Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Robert A Hauser, MD, MBA  Professor of Neurology, Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Director, Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, University of South Florida College of Medicine; Clinical Chair, Signature Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience

Robert A Hauser, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Medical Association, American Society of Neuroimaging, and Movement Disorders Society

Disclosure: Adamas Pharmaceuticals Consulting fee Consulting

Theresa A McClain, RN, MSN, ARNP-BC  Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner and Investigator, Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, University of South Florida College of Medicine

Theresa A McClain, RN, MSN, ARNP-BC is a member of the following medical societies: Sigma Theta Tau International

Disclosure: Teva Consulting fee Consulting; GSK Consulting fee Consulting; Valeant Pharm Consulting fee Consulting; Solvay Consulting fee Consulting; Shering Plough Consulting fee Consulting

Chief Editor

Selim R Benbadis, MD  Professor, Director of Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Tampa General Hospital, University of South Florida College of Medicine

Selim R Benbadis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, American Epilepsy Society, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: UCB Pharma Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Lundbeck Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Cyberonics Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Glaxo Smith Kline Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Pfizer Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Sleepmed/DigiTrace Honoraria Speaking, consulting

Additional Contributors

Nestor Galvez-Jimenez, MD, MSc, MHA Chairman, Department of Neurology, Program Director, Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Division of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Florida

Nestor Galvez-Jimenez, MD, MSc, MHA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American College of Physicians, and Movement Disorders Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Daniel H Jacobs MD, FAAN, Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine; Director for Stroke Services, Orlando Regional Medical Center

Daniel H Jacobs is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Society of Neurorehabilitation, and Society for Neuroscience

Disclosure: Teva Pharmaceutical Grant/research funds Consulting; Biogen Idex Grant/research funds Independent contractor; Serono EMD Royalty Speaking and teaching; Pfizer Royalty Speaking and teaching; Berlex Royalty Speaking and teaching

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

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