Which supplements may benefit people with essential tremor, and which should be avoided?

Written by Meredith Worthington, Ph.D. — Medically reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.

Initially Posted: 05/29/2021

Man with essential tremor holding a cup with his right hand and bracing his wrist with his left hand

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Answer:

Essential tremor or ET (previously called benign essential tremor) is a movement disorder that causes involuntary, rhythmic shaking, typically of the hands, when one moves or contracts a muscle (but not at rest). Medications can help most people, but there are still many who do not respond. There is no cure for ET.

Supplements have been used in treating symptoms of essential tremor, with generally little success. These include caprylic acid (also called octanoic acid), thiamin (vitamin B1), cannabidiol (CBD), GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), and branched-chain amino acids.

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