Twitching Eyes And Muscles

Twitches are common and very rarely a sign of anything serious. They often go away on their own, but see a GP if a twitch lasts more than 2 weeks.

Twitches are usually nothing to worry about

Most people get twitches from time to time.

They're often linked to:

stress and anxiety
tiredness and exhaustion
drinking caffeine or alcohol
some medicines - check the side effects on the packet or leaflet

Twitches can affect any part of the body. Twitches in the eyes or legs are particularly common.

You may also have tingling or cramps (spasms) in the same area.

How you can help stop a twitch

A twitch may come and go, but will normally stop in a few days or weeks.

There's not usually any treatment for it.

But there are some things you can do to help.

Do

get plenty of rest
try to find ways to relax
stretch and massage any muscles affected by cramps
try not to worry about it - a twitch is usually harmless and worrying can make it worse

Don't

do not drink lots of caffeine, such as tea and coffee
do not drink lots of alcohol
do not stop taking a prescribed medicine without getting medical advice, even if you think it could be causing your twitch

See a GP if:

you have a twitch for more than 2 weeks
you have a twitch in more than 1 place
the affected area feels weak or stiff
you think a prescribed medicine might be causing your twitch

What happens at your GP appointment

If your twitch does not go away, your GP may:

check for causes like stress or a medicine you're taking
ask you to come back if the twitch has not stopped in a few weeks
refer you to a specialist called a neurologist for tests to look for conditions that can cause a twitch

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