Alcoholism secondary to essential tremor.

Alcohol transiently improves the shakiness of patients with essential (familial) tremor. The possibility that essential tremor may lead to alcohol abuse and addiction is raised in relationship to three case reports. It is suggested that secondary alcoholism in patients with essential tremor may be treated or prevented by control of the essential tremor with beta-adrenergic blocking agents. Theoretical implications for the etiology of alcoholism are discussed.