Tremor as a Side Effect From Taking Antidepressants

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is a Tremor?Antidepressants and TremorOther MedicationsMedical ConditionsDiagnosisTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is a Tremor?

Antidepressants and Tremor

Other Medications

Medical Conditions

Diagnosis

Treatment

Frequently Asked Questions

Close

Antidepressants such as sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac), and paroxetine (Paxil) are linked to tremors. This article discusses tremors, their types, and the medications and conditions that can contribute to them, along with treatment options.

A tremor is an involuntary shaking of the head, limbs, or eyelids. This shaking can occur whether you’re moving or still. Tremors:

Some tremors occur during rest; some happen during random or specific movements.

Antidepressants That Cause Tremors

Certain types of antidepressants, such asselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), andtricyclic antidepressantscan cause tremors as a side effect.

Some studies estimate that 20% of people treated with an SSRI or tricyclic antidepressant will develop a tremor. This may occur at any time after the medication was initiated.

SSRI antidepressants include:

Tricyclic antidepressants include:

Tremors can also be a symptom of antidepressant withdrawal. You should never stop taking your antidepressant or change your dose without talking to your doctor first. Your doctor may recommend gradually tapering your dose in order to minimize symptoms of discontinuation syndrome.

Other Medications That Cause Tremors

Other psychiatric medications such as lithium andDepakote(sodium valproate), which are mood stabilizers used inbipolar disorder, may also commonly cause tremors.Antipsychotic medications, particularlytypical antipsychotics, may cause a tremor similar toParkinson’s disease.

Extrapyramidal side effectsof these drugs may also include dystonia (involuntary contractions of muscles),tardive dyskinesia(abnormal facial movements such as grimacing and chewing), andakathisia, a feeling of restlessness that may sometimes mimic a tremor.

In addition, there are a wide variety of other prescription drugs which may cause tremors. These include:

Conditions That Cause Tremors

There are certain medical and mental health conditions that can cause tremors. Some non-medication causes of tremors include:

Determining the Cause

A careful description of your tremor can help your healthcare provider determine whether your antidepressant or another condition is the cause. Your provider likely will:

Generally, this is enough to determine if your antidepressant is causing your tremor, though other tests may be needed to confirm that the tremor isn’t a result of another unrelated condition. Your doctor may order lab tests and other tests such as an MRI or CT scan to rule out other conditions.

Sometimes, however, you may be doing so well on your medication that you don’t want to change it for fear ofdepression relapse. If this is the case, your doctor may opt to add an additional medication to control your tremors. Some medications that may be used to manage antidepressant-induced tremors include:

Sometimes, but not always. Certain studies estimate that 20% of people taking an SSRI like Celexa will develop a tremor.Talk to your doctor if you’re taking Celexa and develop a tremor. They may recommend discontinuing the medication (which usually stops the tremor) or taking another medication to stop the tremor.

How to Know Which Antidepressant Is Best for You

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Morgan JC, Kurek JA, Davis JL, Sethi KD.Insights into pathophysiology from medication-induced tremor.Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y). 2017;7:442. doi:10.7916/D8FJ2V9Q

Dixit S, Khan S, Azad S.A case of SSRI induced irreversible Parkinsonism.J Clin Diagn Res. 2015;9(2):VD01-VD02. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/11394.5583

National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Tremor Fact Sheet.

Kasper, Dennis L.., Anthony S. Fauci, and Stephen L.. Hauser. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. New York: Mc Graw Hill education, 2015. Print.U.S. National Library of Medicine. Medline Plus.Drug-Induced Tremo.

Kasper, Dennis L.., Anthony S. Fauci, and Stephen L.. Hauser. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. New York: Mc Graw Hill education, 2015. Print.

U.S. National Library of Medicine. Medline Plus.Drug-Induced Tremo.

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?