Benign essential tremor is a medical term for shaking that you can’t control. Your hand or fingers may shake when you lift a cup or point at something. Or your voice may shake when you speak. This type of tremor is not harmful. It is not caused by a stroke or Parkinson’s disease.

Some things can affect how much you shake. For example, drinking or eating something with caffeine may make tremors worse for a while. Some medicines also can increase tremors. These include antidepressants and too much thyroid replacement. Talk to your doctor if you think one of your medicines makes your tremors worse.

If you are self-conscious about your tremors, there are some things you can do to reduce them or make them less noticeable. This includes taking medicine.