Parkinsons vs essential tremor

Tue May 29, 2007 8:49 pm Post subject: parkinsons vs. essential tremor --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for your continuing interest and helpfulness.

Two different very competent neurologists have each given a different diagnosis of my condition.One doctor diagnosed Parkinsons and the other doctor diagnosed my condition as essential tremor.

My question is: how to determine which it is? What are the symptons of each and how does the medication differ from one to the other?

Thanks so much.

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Dr. Fernandez



Joined: 20 Jan 2007
Posts: 90

Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 2:22 pm Post subject:

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Parkinson's disease and Essential Tremor are two different disorders.

What is common between them is that they both have shaking (tremors). In general, PD tremors show up at rest (when one is not using the hand) and diminish with action (when one uses or moves the hand), while ET shows up with action and diminishes with rest.

PD is often slowly progressive, and also includes stiffness, slowness, and later on, balance problems.

ET patients often do not experience slowness, stiffness or balance problems. Although if they are old, arthritis can give this to them so it can be tricky.

The treatments are different. The treatment for PD is to enhance dopamine while for ET we use a betablocker and an old seizure medication as first line.

I hope this helps.

Yours,
_________________
Hubert H. Fernandez

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