My hand shakes when I grab a glass

[hydro94530]

just curious here. I've been drinking for years, and it doesn't affect my life at all as far as the job and social aspects. I keep it to just weekends when I have time to enjoy it. However, I think those weekends are getting more crazy than my body can handle. My question is this: I notice that literally when I reach to take a shot of some hard alcohol, my hand shakes terribly. Its just been in the last couple weeks but its weird. I'm not sure if its nervousness for some reason or just simply Ive done enough and need to take a break. I've read that this can be latter stages of alcoholism, but it doesn't feel that way. Any input? Thanks in advance.

[walternowotny]

There are numerous reasons for tremors.In association with drinking it can be sign of withdrawal,peripheral neuropathy or liver disease.Contributing factor can be anxiety(if you expect your hands to shake....they will)
Walter

[hydro94530]

thank you Jacker. That's my plan for now. Gonna stop for about a month and take it from there. It won't be as fun not going out and partying, but I definitely feel the need to really start keeping this in check while I can. Thanks again for the advice. On a side note, I take Milkthistle everyday, which definitely helps a lot. Still gotta do it tho.

[Jacker]

Because of my drinking problems and some related health issues, I've done a lot of reading about the effects of various types of drinking and a fifth a day - even 2 days a week - will do some damage to you if you've been doing it for any length of time.  I think it's a great idea to lay off for right now.  If you decide to pick it up again, keep it moderate, but I'd take some serious time off.  You're still young enough to repair the damage.  

[hydro94530]

I'm 31. I usually drink on Fridays and Saturdays, but I could easily go through a fifth each day. I definitely don't have high BP, so its weird. I think I'm going to just stop for a few weeks. I was worried it was something serious, but it seems its probably just another side affect to drinking too much. I appreciate all the advice I've gotten, thank you tons!

[Jacker]

I never actually got the shakes with high BP, but my left arm would go numb and lose some of it's cooridination.  I blame the alcohol too, but I think part of it may be the way the role that alcohol plays with high blood pressure.  If it's already high, the booze tends to make it worse and it gives you more fluctuation.  
Althought you can get the DT's (shakes) from withdrawals, my hand would sometimes shake the morning after drinking.  That was way before any type of withdrawal would take place.  I think drinking long term will wreak havac on your nervous system.  

[MlovesD]

My boyfriend always said that the shakes were due to high blood pressure, but when I researched hand tremors I found nothing about that. I think the major reasons were withdrawals from drinking, Parkinson's, and I think something else. Just curious.

[Jacker]

Hard to say - how old are you and how long have you been drinking?  What do you call a typical weekend binge (how many)?  Also, do you have high blood pressure?
My left hand began to shake and lose cooridination at the end of my heavy drinking days.  It was the first sign that something was wrong and I ignored it for way too long.  I think it was all alcohol related, and it wasn't the DT's because it would happen while I was drinking.  In my case, I think the alcohol was contributing to high blood pressure,and making the problem worse,  I would go from beer to coffee and back to beer again.  A real roller coaster.  
Why don't you ease off for a few months to see if the problem goes away?