Why do I get muscle twitches?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Twitches are common, usually caused by stress, tiredness, caffeine, or alcohol, and very rarely serious. The NHS lists those triggers, notes eyes and legs are the usual spots, and says most twitches stop on their own in days or weeks. Sleep, less caffeine and alcohol, and not obsessing over the twitch are the treatment. The see-a-GP line is clear: a twitch lasting more than 2 weeks, twitching in more than one place, or the area feeling weak or stiff. Some medicines list twitching as a side effect, but do not stop a prescribed medicine without medical advice.
What to do
- Sleep and de-stress first; tiredness and anxiety are the top triggers.
- Cut caffeine and alcohol for a week and see if the twitch fades.
- Check your medicine leaflets for twitching as a known side effect.
- See a GP for a twitch beyond 2 weeks, in multiple places, or with weakness or stiffness.
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