Essential tremors refer to shaking of certain regions of the body, such as the hands, for no exact reason. The Mayo Clinic says that these tremors begin slowly and can get worse with movement. Left untreated, essential tremors can affect an individual's ability to grip things and write legibly. Fortunately, beta-blocker medications exist to help treat essential tremors.
Atenolol
Atenolol is a beta-blocker medication that is also used to manage chest pain (angina) and high blood pressure (hypertension). It can also be used to prevent the onset of a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Specifically, it works to relax the blood vessels so that more blood flows through the heart and body.
Drugs.com says that atenolol's common side effects include nervousness, anxiety, trouble sleeping and fatigue. This drug can also cause a decreased sex drive (libido). Call a physician when atenolol's common effects remain for more than five to seven days.
Atenolol's serious effects include fainting, lightheadedness, a slow heartbeat (bradycardia), an irregular heartbeat and swelling of the feet or ankles. Other serious effects include liver damage. Signs of liver damage include yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), nausea, a poor appetite and dark urine. Notify a physician immediately when atenolol leads to these effects.
A change in atenolol's dose may be needed when suffering from such illnesses as diabetes, depression, heart failure, pheochromocytoma and low blood pressure (hypotension).
Atenolol is a tablet taken daily or as indicated.
Nadolol
Nadolol is a beta-blocker also used to manage essential tremors, angina and high blood pressure. MedlinePlus says that nadolol's common side effects include fatigue, dizziness and lightheadedness. Call a doctor when nadolol's common effects last for more than six to seven days.
Nadolol's serious effects include fainting, shortness of breath, weight gain and swelling of the ankles, hands, feet or legs. Call a physician immediately when nadolol causes these effects.
MedlinePlus warns that nadolol should not be stopped suddenly as this can lead to a chest pain (angina) or heart attack.
Nadolol is a tablet taken once each day.
Metoprolol
Metoprolol is a beta-blocker whose common effects include vomiting, anxiety, nervousness, fatigue and vomiting. Metoprolol can also lead to decreased sex drive and trouble sleeping. Phone a doctor when metoprolol's common effects remain for more than five days.
This medicine's serious effects include a slow heartbeat (bradycardia), depression, swelling of the feet or ankles, shortness of breath, fainting and cold hands or cold feet. Metoprolol can also lead to liver problems. Signs of liver problems include stomach pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), clay-colored stools and a poor appetite. Contact a physician when metoprolol causes these effects.
A change in metoprolol's dose may be needed when taking such medicines as clonidine, digoxin, spironolactone, bupropion and selegiline.
Metoprolol is also a tablet taken daily.
