[shibumi]

Just for grins - ask your MD Psychiatrist wife what she thinks of this here FReeper’s theory:

It’s an Intention Tremor, unusual in that it involves the upper body rather than extremities, but a direct result of both alcohol and stroke.

I’m taking my cue from the non-loss of consciousness, the violent shaking, the quick recovery and the subject’s known medical history. Also the onset seemed to be *positional* - it occurred when she turned her head in a particular direction.

My guess is that she was temporarily dried out, had a good jolt of caffeine and hit that special nerve. They probably secreted her away with a bottle of booze and she was back to “normal” within a half hour.

[Gay State Conservative]

Just for grins - ask your MD Psychiatrist wife what she thinks of this here FReeper’s theory:

The best person,by far,to pass judgment here is a skilled,experienced Neurologist.Such a physician is best trained to determine if this was a "seizure" or any other neurological (that is,connected to the brain or central nervous system) event.

If it's determined that it's not neurological then one could consult a psychiatrist to see if it might be psychiatric/psychological in nature.

[tired&retired]

Possible Intention Tremor

These are not diagnostic comments. They are for information only.

Broad Classification of Tremors

TREMOR TYPE:

Action Tremor: Includes postural, isometric, and kinetic tremors

Occurs in conjunction with with a voluntary contraction of muscle

Kinetic Tremor: Occurs with any form of voluntary movement Includes classic essential, cerebellar, dystonic, and drug-induced tremors

Intention Tremor: Subtype of kinetic tremor amplified as the target is reached

Presence of this type of tremor implies that there is a disturbance of the cerebellum or its pathways

The woman holding the cell phone in front of Hillary just below eye level could have triggered an intention tremor.

Alcohol, caffeine and other drugs could influence this type of tremor.

Diagnostic algorithm for tremors.

Diagnosis of Tremor with an Organic Cause

DRUG- AND METABOLIC-INDUCED TREMORS Dozens of medications can cause or exacerbate tremor. Patients with new-onset tremor should have a comprehensive medication review with specific attention to medications (prescribed and over-the-counter) started proximal to the onset of tremor. Medications particularly prone to inducing or exacerbating tremor are those that stimulate the sympathetic nervous system (e.g., amphetamines, terbutaline, pseudoephedrine) and psychoactive medications (e.g., tricyclic antidepressants, haloperidol, fluoxetine [Prozac]). When medication review reveals a likely culprit, a trial off of this medication should be attempted.

Selected Medications and Substances That May Exacerbate Tremor

Amiodarone

Amphetamines

Atorvastatin (Lipitor)

Beta-adrenergic agonists (e.g., albuterol)

Caffeine

Carbamazepine (Tegretol)

Corticosteroids

Cyclosporine (Sandimmune)

Epinephrine

Fluoxetine (Prozac)

Haloperidol

Hypoglycemic agents

Lithium

Metoclopramide (Reglan)

Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

Pseudoephedrine

Terbutaline

Theophylline

Thyroid hormones

Tricyclic antidepressants

Valproic acid (Depakene)

Verapamil

Hope this helps.......

Most tremors are symmetric, but brain tumors can cause tremors to lateralize to one side. Caffeine and fatigue are often exacerbating factors in essential tremor; alleviating factors are difficult to find. A search must be made for associated diseases (e.g., sleep disorders because fatigued muscles may amplify physiologic tremor; polyneuropathy because lack of innervations may cause small involuntary movements that are interpreted as tremor).

A family history of neurologic disease or tremor suggests a genetic component, as is often seen in essential tremor. A thorough medication history should be obtained to rule out drug-induced tremor.

The patient should also be screened for drugs of abuse and alcohol consumption because alcohol overuse and withdrawal can cause tremor. Conversely, small amounts of alcohol can temporarily relieve essential tremor and can be a clue to the diagnosis.

Source:

Differentiation and Diagnosis of Tremor

PAUL CRAWFORD, MD, and ETHAN E. ZIMMERMAN, MD, Nellis Family Medicine Residency, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada Am Fam Physician. 2011 Mar 15;83(6):697-702.