Brief Answer:
Dystonia or dyskinesias

Detailed Answer:
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Essential Tremor is not known to significantly effect movements of the tongue which is likely based upon the fact that the tongue is controlled by a different sort of nerve known as a cranial nerve as opposed to the limbs which are controlled by spinal nerves. Cranial nerves are not affected in their motor components by the process of essential tremor.

Propranolol is certainly a good drug to use for essential tremor but I wouldn't expect there to be much effect as far as these tongue movements.

When the tongue contracts or moves as you say then, there are a couple of things to consider.

One would be side effects of drugs such as REGLAN (metoclopramide) or COMPAZINE (prochlorperazine), and HALDOL (haloperidol).

Another reason for the tongue moving about the way you describe would be from a condition known as DYSTONIA or abnormal tone in a muscle. This could be caused by metabolic defects, toxicity within the body, stroke, or infections within the oromandibular region (the mouth) or the brain.

If I were your neurologist I would order laboratory studies, review all medications you've taken over the past 4-6 weeks, do a complete neurological examination on you, and then, if necessary consider getting an MRI of the brain.

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