What Causes Tremors In Fingers After Taking Lithium Carbonate?

Posted on Mon, 27 Apr 2015

Question: I took lithium carbonate for 6 months. Dosage ranged from 150mg to 900mg per day. I am 240 lbs. I discontinued on December 2014 due to nausea from 900mg of lithium. Now 3.5 months later I still have tremor in my fingers. My fingers tremor rapidly when I make a fist. If my hand is held straight or at rest there is no tremor. Im in disbelief that just 900mg for a 240 lbs person can have permanent side effects like finger tremors. Are my finger tremors permanent due to neurological damage of the cerebellum? Do I suffer from lithium toxicity brain damage? When will the tremor go away? Can you point to any personal experience with patients that have had a similar issue with Lithium and recovered fully from persistent tremors that have lasted more than 3 months after cessation?

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
These tremors can persist well upto 5-6 months.Neurological examination.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being again here on healthcaremagic.com.

It is not long back when we had a discussion on your issue.I already assured you in our previous discussion that Lithium tremors may commonly persist for 5-6 months after stopping Lithium and sometimes may last even upto one year.
These are not permanent side effects.You have to observe for another few months atleast,before you comment on their persistence.So,they should not be called 'permanent' at present.

Keep monitoring your Thyroid function tests(TSH) every 6 months.
I had not one,but many,personal experiences of patients persisting with Lithium tremors for more than 6 months and then recovering fully.It is not something to be called a 'permanent brain damage'.
Thinking about the damage of cerebellum is just 'beating about the bush'.Still,I would suggest you to let yourself undergo a neurological examination by a neurologist,so that he can look for cerebellar and other neurological functions.

Actually,I feel concerned about you and want to reassure you that everything will be fine.
Please be hopeful and patient,meanwhile,continuing the drug treatment as we have already discussed in our previous discussion.

Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some follow up questions,I shall be glad to answer else,please close the thread-rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.

Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Ajay Panwar (1 hour later)

Thank you for your reply. The tremors are slowly improving every day so I will be hopeful. My TSH is high too at 5.07 because of the lithium I will get that checked out regularly as well.

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
That's good to hear from you.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
I am really happy that your tremors are gradually improving.They will surely improve completely.
Please be patient and keep following up as and when needed.TSH at 5.07(subclinical hypothyroidism) should not be a cause of worry,however,keep monitoring.

Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some follow up questions,I shall be glad to answer else,please close the thread-rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.

Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E