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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cpallen79 on July 12, 2004, at 9:30:30
Hello, I recently tried to use Seroquel for Insomnia, and it ended up bringing me into nasty akathisia... it feels just like my original agitated depression, it is so bad. I've stopped taking the med as of Saturday, however I am still experiencing troubling feelings of severe inner restlessness and anxiety. I'm pretty sure there's also an anxiety component here, but how long will Akathisia last? I've heard it can go away right away, or it can linger around for awhile. I am so discouraged, I feel like I had a setback as I was starting to get some of these problems under control.
Posted by Bill LL on July 13, 2004, at 8:34:01
In reply to Help for akathisia- please help, posted by cpallen79 on July 12, 2004, at 9:30:30
What other meds are you on?
Posted by cpallen79 on July 13, 2004, at 9:06:02
In reply to Re: Help for akathisia- please help, posted by Bill LL on July 13, 2004, at 8:34:01
> What other meds are you on?
Hi, I take 12.5 of Lexapro, 5MGS of adderall XR, and was also taking 15 mgs of Buspar,of which I am tapering off of.
Posted by Philidor on July 13, 2004, at 14:06:03
In reply to Re: Help for akathisia- please help » Bill LL, posted by cpallen79 on July 13, 2004, at 9:06:02
Look, I'm not a doctor and I don't even play one on TV, but I know the hell of akathisia (I thought it was from alcohol withdrawal, but it was really the Compazine (prochlorperazine)I was taking for my hangover!)>
Diphenhydramine, that's right, good old Benedryl, seems to be what works. SEE BELOW:
Posted by cpallen79 on July 13, 2004, at 23:04:01
In reply to Re: Help for akathisia- please help, posted by Philidor on July 13, 2004, at 14:06:03
Thanks! I took a sleep aid last night and it helped, I'm jsut waiting to get Buspar out of my system and then I will start another med for sleeping.
Posted by Bill LL on July 14, 2004, at 9:05:27
In reply to Re: Help for akathisia- please help, posted by cpallen79 on July 13, 2004, at 23:04:01
If over the counter sleep aids don't help every night, you may want to consider Ambien for sleep. You can alternate taking Ambien some nights and over the counter drugs other nights.
Some effective over the couner sleep aids are Tylenol PM, antihistamines, Valerian, and Ashwagandha.
If your anxiety perists, talk to your doc about an increase in your dose of Lexapro.
Posted by cpallen79 on July 14, 2004, at 12:44:54
In reply to Re: Help for akathisia- please help, posted by Bill LL on July 14, 2004, at 9:05:27
Hello, I am feeling much better, I have been sleeping well and don't feel ready to jump out of my skin. Quitting both the Seroquel and the Buspar has helped as both affect Dopamine... when you lower my dopamine levels, you're asking for trouble. I think I'll be ok.
> If over the counter sleep aids don't help every night, you may want to consider Ambien for sleep. You can alternate taking Ambien some nights and over the counter drugs other nights.
>
> Some effective over the couner sleep aids are Tylenol PM, antihistamines, Valerian, and Ashwagandha.
>
> If your anxiety perists, talk to your doc about an increase in your dose of Lexapro.
Posted by BarbaraCat on July 14, 2004, at 15:59:01
In reply to Help for akathisia- please help, posted by cpallen79 on July 12, 2004, at 9:30:30
Hi Chris,
Are you still feeling badly from Seroquel? I discovered something that helped me quite a bit and might help you, since we both seemed to have experienced the same nasty side effects. Benedryl! Benedryl is an anti-histamine mainly used for allergies, but some people use as a sleep med. After our discussion with Chemist et al on another post, I got to thinking that Seroquel might be working to increase a histamine pathway that some of us do poorly on. So I figured what the heck, Benedryl is an anti-histamine and Lord knows, I needed to sleep after that ordeal. So the past two nights I've taken 50mg of diphenhydramine hydrochloride (generic Benedryl), slept like a baby and woke up feeling a lovely peaceful feeling. I think there's some fascinating piece of sleuthing work in this and histamines might play a large part in my particular problems. You might give it a try and see if anything comes of it. - Barbara
Posted by cpallen79 on July 14, 2004, at 19:39:20
In reply to Re: Help for akathisia- please help » cpallen79, posted by BarbaraCat on July 14, 2004, at 15:59:01
Hey Barabracat, I'm feeling a bit better, that Seroquel really rattled my chain. Still some problems, but I tihnk it has something to do with the peaks and valleys of adderall and my dopamine levels. I'm off the Buspar now and am supposed to start taking Luvox, which should be "fun" trying to get on, while tapering off of Lexapro at the same time. We'll see what happens.
> Hi Chris,
> Are you still feeling badly from Seroquel? I discovered something that helped me quite a bit and might help you, since we both seemed to have experienced the same nasty side effects. Benedryl! Benedryl is an anti-histamine mainly used for allergies, but some people use as a sleep med. After our discussion with Chemist et al on another post, I got to thinking that Seroquel might be working to increase a histamine pathway that some of us do poorly on. So I figured what the heck, Benedryl is an anti-histamine and Lord knows, I needed to sleep after that ordeal. So the past two nights I've taken 50mg of diphenhydramine hydrochloride (generic Benedryl), slept like a baby and woke up feeling a lovely peaceful feeling. I think there's some fascinating piece of sleuthing work in this and histamines might play a large part in my particular problems. You might give it a try and see if anything comes of it. - Barbara
Posted by BarbaraCat on July 15, 2004, at 0:34:52
In reply to Re: Help for akathisia- please help » BarbaraCat, posted by cpallen79 on July 14, 2004, at 19:39:20
This will probably get booted to Alternative, but look into DL-Phenylalanine and L-Tyrosine. Amino acids that boost dopamine levels naturally. Usually you take one or the other. Phenylalanine has more an affinity for dopamine, tyrosine for norepinphrine. You have to just see which one makes you feel better. I take L-tyrosine and find that it gives me a boost and is good for the thyroid.
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 15, 2004, at 19:33:23
In reply to Re: Help for akathisia- please help » cpallen79, posted by BarbaraCat on July 15, 2004, at 0:34:52
> This will probably get booted to Alternative, but look into DL-Phenylalanine and L-Tyrosine...
Right, I'd like to redirect follow-ups regarding amino acids there. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040613/msgs/366656.html
Thanks,
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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