Here's What's Really Causing Your Shaky Hands

Everyone's hands shake at some time or another. This common symptom has a variety of causes and shouldn't cause too much concern when it happens occasionally. However, it's important to know what causes your shaky hands so you can fix the problem. According to Medical News Today, shaky hands can be a side effect of some drugs including amphetamines, corticosteroids, and caffeine. Some asthma and neurological medications can also cause this effect. If you are taking any of these medications and experiencing shaky hands, talk to your doctor about how to manage the side effects.

Other health issues may be the culprit of shaky hands. Alcohol abuse or withdrawal, mercury poisoning, and hyperthyroidism can all cause tremors in the hands, as well as liver or kidney failure. Even psychiatric conditions like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder can impact the steadiness of your hands. If you are experiencing any of these health issues and concerned about shaky hands, speak with your healthcare provider.

One common cause of shaky hands is an essential tremor disorder (via Mayo Clinic). This disorder causes involuntary shaking and can affect all parts of the body, but is most common in the hands. Although essential tremor is not life-threatening, it can get worse with age. Symptoms of essential tremor include shaking that gets worse with movement and shaking that gradually gets worse over time. It can also become more severe from stress, fatigue, or caffeine intake.

If you experience shaky hands regularly, speak with your doctor about it. Not everyone will need medical treatment, but depending on your symptoms, your doctor may suggest running tests for further examination (via Healthline). Two common medications used to treat hand tremors are propranolol and primidone. Propranolol is a beta-blocker that treats arrhythmia and hypertension while primidone is an antiseizure medication. Both may help with the effects of hand tremors. Your doctor may prescribe other medications to help with shaky hands if those aren't the best solution for you.