# I'm shaking; Tremor? Parkinson's?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shaking-tremor-parkinsons/190123>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 22, 2003, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shaking-tremor-parkinsons/190123 "2003-07-22T12:36:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shaking-tremor-parkinsons/190123/1 "2003-07-22T12:36:32Z")

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Lately, I’ve been a bit shaky. If I’m standing or sitting and I put the weight on the ball of my foot, it shakes. Sometimes, I can feel the shaking inside my body, and in my hands. Has anybody had this experience?

Here’s some baseline info: Male, 40, not obese. I take Paxil and Advair daily. I have been drinking more coffee than usual for the past few months (2 large cups instead of 1).

I think that perhaps its the Paxil or the caffiene or both, and not some debilitating disease, at least that’s what I’m hoping. I’m going to the doctor soon, so the "get thee to a doctor"s aren’t necessary, though the sentiment is appreciated…

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**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shaking-tremor-parkinsons/190123/2 "2003-07-22T12:51:10Z")

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Most asthma meds cause shaking as a side effect, and it is a quite common side effect and one of the effects that the drug companies would like to get better control over.

Been an on/off problem for all asthma sufferers I know. If you check with doc/pharmacy/insert, you should get some advice to reduce the incidents, but you should know they are common.

Disclaimer: always check with you doc, and take advice from here just as way of understanding but not ignoring professionals

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**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shaking-tremor-parkinsons/190123/3 "2003-07-22T13:22:54Z")

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Hah! Think Advair and a little coffee give you the shakes? Try theophylline! Advair is mostly not absorbed into the bloodstream (according to my doctor but I don’t believe him) while theophylline works from the inside out, shaking up your whole system like its close relative, caffeine. The liquid for is best–as bitter as bile (I have an unfortunate familiarity with the taste of bile) and hits my stomach like liquid knives, but it gets the job done.

(actually, I think it’s from Paxil–its possible side effects include tremors–and doubling your coffee intake)

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**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-shaking-tremor-parkinsons/190123/4 "2003-07-22T13:23:55Z")

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Thanks, **Philster.** I’m thinking that using steroids of any kind for extended periods is bad news. I’m going to inqure about non-steroidal treatments. Too bad, though, because it definitely works for the asthma…