caffeine tremors

[secretmiss]

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[maxheadroom]

It takes several cups of coffee to make my tremor significant, but the diuretic effect of significant caffeine consumption can make longer cases difficult for me. I've cut back on my caffeine intake without any significant problems with feeling tired. But I really miss my little coffee breaks . . .

 

[Ergo]

I like to have a cup on the way to work, however I try not to have caffeine within one hour of a presentation or a surgical case where I might be asked to actually help with the surgery. I like the help caffeine provides with staying alert during a longer case, but if Im actually working on the patient my catecholamines and tension in addition to caffeine have made my hands less steady.
Good luck.

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

A good family friend of mine, hes chair of neurosurgery at UWisconsin, has not had a sip of caffeine since he was a child. He says caffeine doesnt really affect him, but you never know. I mean, what happens if he has a cup of coffee and all of a sudden some kind of trauma occurs and his hands are shaking.

If I go into surgery eventually, Ill likely cut out the minimal caffeine I currently consume.

 

[Pir8DeacDoc]

I must agree that the diuretic effect is much more of a concern for me. If I know there is a long case scheduled I make sure not to have any coffee pre-operatively. Nothing worse than the thought of a med student having to scrub out b/c he's gotta take a leak. Hasn't happened yet thankfully 😉

 

[njbmd]

If one is considering a career in Surgery but drinks alot of coffee or soda, it is necessary to quit or at least significantly cut back because of caffeine induced tremors? Or is everyone all caffeinated up anyways because of the long hours and early mornings? I don't particularly notice any tremors, but maybe it will be more obvious once I have a scapel in my hand. Also, do caffeine tremors occur in people who are drink alot and have tolerance or does it only occur to people who irregularly comsume caffeine? And could i expect it to appear with age. Just wondering...

Hi there,
I am a General Surgery resident and I gave up coffee this year because I could see the fine tremors when I am operating under the microscope. Otherwise, caffeine really didn't do much for me in terms of keeping me alert or awake so not drinking coffee or caffeinated soft drinks hasn't made much of a difference.

I love the taste of good coffee and decaf is nasty. I have substituted my caffeine-containing drinks with plain water. I keep a Brita water bottle in my lab coat pocket and swig from it most of the time. I find that when I am hydrated, I am less tired. Being under the OR lights can dehydrate one very easily so keep the fluids going. Caffeine adds to you dehydration so use it sparingly (one cup in the morning).

A couple of my attendings and a couple of the chiefs carry their coffee cups from room to room on rounds. They park their cups on the railings outside the rooms. This is handy when I want to find the group. 😀

The operating microscope magnifies any fine tremor so be prepared for this otherwise, you will hardly know that your hands are shaking even if you are a 5 to 6 cup of coffee a day person.

njbmd 🙂

 

[factoid]

hello

i don't have a caffeine tremor but i do have a pretty obvious intention tremor, made worse by stress/anxiety. anyone ever try propranolol? it's really embarrassing to have your hands fly all over the place when doing a procedure.

thanks

 

[Primo]

hello

i don't have a caffeine tremor but i do have a pretty obvious intention tremor, made worse by stress/anxiety. anyone ever try propranolol? it's really embarrassing to have your hands fly all over the place when doing a procedure.

thanks

Hey, I have the same thing.

I tried propranolol, but it didn't do much good, so I'm taking mysolin/primidone now, which I think helps, although it's hard to tell. Are you a surgical resident?

 

[factoid]

Hey, I have the same thing.

I tried propranolol, but it didn't do much good, so I'm taking mysolin/primidone now, which I think helps, although it's hard to tell. Are you a surgical resident?

hey

i'm starting in july. have you noticed any side affects from the meds you've mentioned? i'm interested in trying something that has minimal side effects.

would really appreciate the input.

 

[Primo]

hey

i'm starting in july. have you noticed any side affects from the meds you've mentioned? i'm interested in trying something that has minimal side effects.

would really appreciate the input.

No prob.

I've been taking it since about Thanksgiving, and I haven't noticed any side effects at all. You have to ease onto it at first. My doctor gave me a full dose the first time and nearly passed out it made me so sleepy. But after I was up to the full dose I haven't had a single problem with it. I just take a small pill 3 times a day. So yeah, I'd say it has minimal side effects, if any.

At least for me.

 

[cgellura]

Yes, I have tremors from too much caffeine. I have seriously cut down on the amount of Pepsi I drink (the only caffeine I consume) due to my hands shaking. Obviously this is not suitable for life in the O.R. I find that when I drink no more than 1-2 cans I am fine, no shaking hands.

 

[DocWasabi]

No prob.

I've been taking it since about Thanksgiving, and I haven't noticed any side effects at all. You have to ease onto it at first. My doctor gave me a full dose the first time and nearly passed out it made me so sleepy. But after I was up to the full dose I haven't had a single problem with it. I just take a small pill 3 times a day. So yeah, I'd say it has minimal side effects, if any.

At least for me.

Have you found that over time, the tid dosing isn't as effective as it was in the beginning?

 

[Primo]

Have you found that over time, the tid dosing isn't as effective as it was in the beginning?

I have noticed that the tremors have gotten worse. Now I don't know why. Tremors are progressive, and they get worse over time, so I don't know if the medication has become less effective or if the tremors themselves have gotten worse.

 

[navysurgeon]

keep your hands on the patient when you're sewing, elbows down and against your body, arms close your sides...that's the best way to minimize the effects of your tremor...

i drink coffee, do micro surgery, and do okay using these body positioning tricks...its a non-issue

 

[Winged Scapula]

navysurgeons' mentioned exactly what one of my attendings told me when I was an intern. Keep your hands on the patient, or use the attending's hand to rest yours on. As a matter of fact, I was doing the latter and one of the medical student's made a smart alec comment on it, only to be told that I was going the right thing by the attending. In his words, "Everyone has a tremor. Some are worse than others. I don't want to know how bad yours is, so do whatever you need to do to minimize it so I don't have to see it."

I don't find that a couple of Diet Pepsis (my caffeinated drink of choice) makes as much difference as being tired or working with a new attending (and being a bit nervous). But if you do, then cutting down would be wise. I've also found that rather than using caffeine to stay awake (which doesn't really help), Provigil is a wonder...concentation, energy, no jitters and I can sleep when I want to.

 

[JudoKing01]

If one is considering a career in Surgery but drinks alot of coffee or soda, it is necessary to quit or at least significantly cut back because of caffeine induced tremors? Or is everyone all caffeinated up anyways because of the long hours and early mornings? I don't particularly notice any tremors, but maybe it will be more obvious once I have a scapel in my hand. Also, do caffeine tremors occur in people who are drink alot and have tolerance or does it only occur to people who irregularly comsume caffeine? And could i expect it to appear with age. Just wondering...

Dude, don't worry about tremors. Every surgeon I know except for two (not an exaggeration) has at least a mild form of tremors practically throughout the whole operation. They are still awesome surgeons.