Posted by erik98225 on August 23, 2004, at 19:35:49
I have social phobia and my pdoc has recently suspected an additional diagnosis of Tourettes syndrome due to my odd speech patterns.
If I understand correctly the only way to diagnose Tourettes is to treat it and see if it works.
I am already on the following medications:
Paxil 40mg for social phobia
Klonopin 6mg for social phobia
Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg for hypertensionPdoc (this is a new pdoc as I've recently changed insurance providers) wants me off the Klonopin, even though it is more effective than Paxil, "because it is addictive". She is slowly taking the dose down by 0.5mg a week. I told her that I've never abused it but she is still benzophobic and insists that I stop taking it.
After trying Seroquel (which was a distaster -- I CAN'T STAND antihistamine/anticholinergic effects) for about 3 pills I saw my pdoc again today and demanded to be switched to a different medication.
She prescribed Haldol (Haloperidol) 5mg and Cogentin (Benztropine Mesylate) 1mg to be taken at bedtime.
I understand that Haldol is an antipsychotic (dopamine antagonist) just like Seroquel to treat Tourettes Syndrome, but what the h___ is the Cogentin for?
My pdoc said "it helps to eliminate sedation carrying over into the daytime" but I don't believe it. From what I read on the internet and the information sheet from the pharmacy, Cogentin IS AN ANTICHOLINERGIC (and will thus cause precisely the effects that made me hate the Seroquel so much), and it is also an anti-parkinsons drug (dopamine agonist) having precisely the OPPOSITE effect of the Haldol.
This makes no sense to me whatsoever. It sounds like taking a benzo then taking a stimulant!
Has anyone ever been on the combination of Haldol/Cogentin or knows anything about these meds? I'd like all the information I can get before I start taking them.
I'm also worried about the risk of the dreaded *TD* that is associated with all dopamine antagonists. Is 5mg a day of Haldol going to cause this? I'm only 22 and I don't want to have Parkinson's Disease for the rest of my life.
poster:erik98225
thread:381499
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040821/msgs/381499.html