Shaky hands are commonly referred to as a hand tremor. A hand tremor itself isn’t life threatening, but it may make daily tasks more challenging.

Essential tremor is the most common cause of shaking hands in adults, a condition doctors do not fully understand.

If you experience hand tremors, speak with your doctor.

Read on to learn more about the treatments for shaking hands.

According to the National Tremor Foundation, several medications are prescribed for treating shaky hands caused by essential tremor. Their list includes:

Anti-anxiety medication

Alprazolam (Xanax) is used to treat anxiety (which can cause shaking hands) and panic disorders. Early research indicated that it may be an effective treatment for essential tremor. This drug should be taken with caution, as it’s known to be habit-forming.

Botox

Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) shows promise as a treatment for essential tremors affecting the hands. However, this medicine may cause significant muscle weakness where injected, so be sure to speak with your doctor about the potential risks and benefits.

The benefits from a successful injection may last up to 3 months. Subsequent injections may be needed.

A doctor may recommend one or more strategies to help ease the symptoms of essential tremor. Suggestions may include:

  • Using heavier objects. You may need to replace lightweight or delicate objects, such as glasses, silverware, or plates, with heavier versions. The extra weight may make the item easier to handle.
  • Using specially designed utensils and tools. Gripping and controlling items like pens, pencils, garden tools, and kitchen utensils may be difficult if you have shaky hands. You might consider looking for versions of these items that are designed for people with grip and control challenges.
  • Wearing wrist weights. The extra weight on your arm may make control easier.

A doctor is unlikely to recommend surgery as your first treatment option. Surgical treatments are typically reserved for people who have a severely disabling tremor. Surgery may become an option as you age or if the tremor worsens.

Deep brain stimulation

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical procedure used to treat tremors. During a DBS procedure, a surgeon places electronic devices called electrodes in your brain that receive an electronic signal that interferes with the brain activity responsible for the tremor.

The signal is transmitted from a device that’s implanted under the skin of your upper chest. DBS is currently only recommended for people with advanced or severe limb tremor.

Thalamotomy

Thalamotomy is another surgical option.

During this procedure, your surgeon will use radiofrequency sound waves to make a permanent lesion in a very small area of your brain’s thalamus. An MRI is used to guide where the waves are aimed. This interrupts the brain’s typical electrical activity and reduces or stops the tremor.

Though there’s no cure for most tremors, there are available treatment options. These treatments are determined by the cause of your hand tremor. If your tremor is caused by an underlying condition, treating that condition may reduce or eliminate the tremor.

If caffeine, alcohol, or other stimulants affect your tremor, you may want to consider removing them from your diet. If your tremor is a side effect of medication, speak with your doctor about your options.

If your shaky hands are caused by essential tremor, there’s no cure, but there are ways to manage it. The condition, which often begins in adolescence or in your 40s, may worsen as you get older.

However, treatments may offer some symptom relief. The types of treatment you use will depend on how severe the shaking is and the potential side effects of each treatment option. You and your doctor can discuss your options.

If you’ve experienced shaky hands or symptoms of essential tremor, make an appointment to speak with your doctor. They will likely request several medical and physical tests to rule out other possibilities before a diagnosis can be made.

Once a diagnosis is made, you can begin to discuss treatment options. Treatment may not be necessary if the tremor is mild and doesn’t interfere with day-to-day activities.

If the shaking becomes too difficult to manage, you can revisit the treatment options. Finding one that works well with minimal side effects may take time. You can work with your doctor and any therapists or specialists you visit to find a plan that best suits your needs.

While there’s no cure for most hand tremors, prescription medications and lifestyle changes may provide relief.