Essential Tremor Differential Diagnoses

Updated: Feb 24, 2023
  • Author: Natalya V Shneyder, MD; Chief Editor: Selim R Benbadis, MD  more...
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DDx

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