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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tez on July 3, 2005, at 15:48:43
Hi,
I have been diagnosed as suffering from akathisia (motor restlessness).I have come off the anti-psychotic (Haldol) some time ago but the akathisia is still a severe problem.
Does anyone have any ideas?
I am currently taking clonazepam.
Many thanks,
Tez
Posted by SLS on July 4, 2005, at 7:11:30
In reply to AKATHISIA, posted by tez on July 3, 2005, at 15:48:43
> Hi,
> I have been diagnosed as suffering from akathisia (motor restlessness).
>
> I have come off the anti-psychotic (Haldol) some time ago but the akathisia is still a severe problem.
The terms "akathisia" and "motor restlessness" represent clinical judgments of what it is you are experiencing as symptoms.In your own words, what exactly are you experiencing?
- Scott
Posted by Spriggy on July 4, 2005, at 15:07:02
In reply to Re: AKATHISIA, posted by SLS on July 4, 2005, at 7:11:30
If you have akathasia like I had it, I sure do feel for you.
I could only describe my experience with akathasia as pure, living, mental and physical torment.
It is as I would imagine Hades feeling like.
I could NOT get comfortable in my own skin. I felt like I wanted to just crawl out of my body and go somewhere else. I would pace the floor for hours becuase I couldn't stand to be still- I felt this inner need to be moving all the time just to handle the torment.
It actually landed me my first and only trip into the Psych ward. After 4 days of Ativan and Benadryl, it went away almost totally. After 6 weeks off of Lexapro, I finally felt that inner restlessness leave.
It was horrific. Pure misery.
I will pray for you.
Posted by tez on July 5, 2005, at 14:45:36
In reply to Re: AKATHISIA, posted by Spriggy on July 4, 2005, at 15:07:02
Yes that is how it feels. I don't know how I can resolve the problem. Thankyou for your kind thoughts and prayers.
God Bless,
Tez> If you have akathasia like I had it, I sure do feel for you.
>
> I could only describe my experience with akathasia as pure, living, mental and physical torment.
>
> It is as I would imagine Hades feeling like.
>
> I could NOT get comfortable in my own skin. I felt like I wanted to just crawl out of my body and go somewhere else. I would pace the floor for hours becuase I couldn't stand to be still- I felt this inner need to be moving all the time just to handle the torment.
>
> It actually landed me my first and only trip into the Psych ward. After 4 days of Ativan and Benadryl, it went away almost totally. After 6 weeks off of Lexapro, I finally felt that inner restlessness leave.
>
> It was horrific. Pure misery.
>
> I will pray for you.
Posted by tez on July 5, 2005, at 14:58:04
In reply to Re: AKATHISIA, posted by SLS on July 4, 2005, at 7:11:30
Hi Scott,
The best way to describe these feelings is in a posting from another sufferer as follows:
If you have akathasia like I had it, I sure do feel for you.
I could only describe my experience with akathasia as pure, living, mental and physical torment.
It is as I would imagine Hades feeling like.
I could NOT get comfortable in my own skin. I felt like I wanted to just crawl out of my body and go somewhere else. I would pace the floor for hours becuase I couldn't stand to be still- I felt this inner need to be moving all the time just to handle the torment.
It actually landed me my first and only trip into the Psych ward. After 4 days of Ativan and Benadryl, it went away almost totally. After 6 weeks off of Lexapro, I finally felt that inner restlessness leave.
It was horrific. Pure misery.
I will pray for you.
-------------------------------------------
It is a feeling of severe agitation, never feeling restful, always wanting to move around. It actually feels a little better when I do move around. The same feelings are always there, all day long, every day.
Obviously this causes severe feelings of depression which I had not been prone to before.
Have you experienced akathisia before?
Best wishes,
Tez> > Hi,
> > I have been diagnosed as suffering from akathisia (motor restlessness).
> >
> > I have come off the anti-psychotic (Haldol) some time ago but the akathisia is still a severe problem.
>
>
> The terms "akathisia" and "motor restlessness" represent clinical judgments of what it is you are experiencing as symptoms.
>
> In your own words, what exactly are you experiencing?
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by SLS on July 5, 2005, at 20:12:29
In reply to Re: AKATHISIA, posted by tez on July 5, 2005, at 14:58:04
> It is a feeling of severe agitation, never feeling restful, always wanting to move around. It actually feels a little better when I do move around. The same feelings are always there, all day long, every day.
Gosh, that sounds pretty terrible. The closest I came to that experience was a mild form of an akathisia-like state when I first started Abilify.
What drugs have produced akathisia for you?
Thanks.
- Scott
Posted by yxibow on July 5, 2005, at 23:34:19
In reply to AKATHISIA, posted by tez on July 3, 2005, at 15:48:43
> Hi,
> I have been diagnosed as suffering from akathisia (motor restlessness).
>
> I have come off the anti-psychotic (Haldol) some time ago but the akathisia is still a severe problem.
>
> Does anyone have any ideas?
>
> I am currently taking clonazepam.
>
> Many thanks,
> TezI can sympathize... I was given an IV dose once of Compazine in the ER for flu related severe nausea and I wanted to run through the walls. Finally the nurse gave me IV benadryl, unfortunately it wore off and I had to take a taxi home, curled in a ball on the sofa for like 2 hours.
When I get occasional EPS from Seroquel I sometimes use Akineton (biperiden), which is fairly good for akathisia and is not particularly sedating. Cogentin (benztropine mesylate) may or may not be more successful for akathisia but it is somewhat of a groggy medication and also has more pronounced atropine (visual distortion and a wierd psychotic feeling) effects in my opinion. There's also Inderal (propranolol), a beta blocker, which may work at a higher dose like 60 to 80mg (in my case anyway) -- depends on your heart.
Hope you feel better
Posted by tez on July 9, 2005, at 16:01:14
In reply to Re: AKATHISIA » tez, posted by SLS on July 5, 2005, at 20:12:29
It first started when I took haloperidol (haldol). I have been on a lot of alternative anti-psychotics such as sulpiride and risperidone with no improvement.
All the best,
Tez> > It is a feeling of severe agitation, never feeling restful, always wanting to move around. It actually feels a little better when I do move around. The same feelings are always there, all day long, every day.
>
> Gosh, that sounds pretty terrible. The closest I came to that experience was a mild form of an akathisia-like state when I first started Abilify.
>
> What drugs have produced akathisia for you?
>
> Thanks.
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by tez on July 9, 2005, at 16:06:55
In reply to Re: AKATHISIA, posted by yxibow on July 5, 2005, at 23:34:19
Thanks for your advice. I have tried propanolol but unfortunately it did not help. I hope your condition has improved.
All the best,
Tez> > Hi,
> > I have been diagnosed as suffering from akathisia (motor restlessness).
> >
> > I have come off the anti-psychotic (Haldol) some time ago but the akathisia is still a severe problem.
> >
> > Does anyone have any ideas?
> >
> > I am currently taking clonazepam.
> >
> > Many thanks,
> > Tez
>
> I can sympathize... I was given an IV dose once of Compazine in the ER for flu related severe nausea and I wanted to run through the walls. Finally the nurse gave me IV benadryl, unfortunately it wore off and I had to take a taxi home, curled in a ball on the sofa for like 2 hours.
>
> When I get occasional EPS from Seroquel I sometimes use Akineton (biperiden), which is fairly good for akathisia and is not particularly sedating. Cogentin (benztropine mesylate) may or may not be more successful for akathisia but it is somewhat of a groggy medication and also has more pronounced atropine (visual distortion and a wierd psychotic feeling) effects in my opinion. There's also Inderal (propranolol), a beta blocker, which may work at a higher dose like 60 to 80mg (in my case anyway) -- depends on your heart.
>
> Hope you feel better
Posted by yxibow on July 10, 2005, at 1:11:16
In reply to Re: AKATHISIA, posted by tez on July 9, 2005, at 16:06:55
> Thanks for your advice. I have tried propanolol but unfortunately it did not help. I hope your condition has improved.
>
> All the best,
> Tez
>
> > > Hi,
> > > I have been diagnosed as suffering from akathisia (motor restlessness).
> > >
> > > I have come off the anti-psychotic (Haldol) some time ago but the akathisia is still a severe problem.There are several other possibilities, one which I can't say since as I'm not a doctor I'm not qualified to diagnose it, but there is a condition known as tardive akathisia, persistent after withdrawal. This usually though is after long term use of the medication.
The other thing to consider is that one study has shown that haloperidol (Haldol) can have up to a 21 day half life (5 half lives are usually considered to be the point when a drug leaves your system, give or take). You may still have haloperidol metabolites in your system even at this moment.
I would try to ask your doctor about Akineton -- he or she may not have heard of it, it is an older anticholinergic, but it has been used extensively in situations such as veterans hospitals and the like and may provide more relief than propranolol can. There is also Artane (trihexyphenidyl), which is similar, and a bit more well known.
You haven't run out of options, there are more benzodiazepines than I think I can count on my hand besides Klonopin.
Additionally, experimentally, esp for TD but other movement disorders as well, calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine (Procardia) and verapamil (Verelan) have been used as well.
Hang in there and don't give up.The best.. cheers.
Posted by tez on July 10, 2005, at 8:38:50
In reply to Re: AKATHISIA, posted by yxibow on July 10, 2005, at 1:11:16
Hi,
I will ask my doctor about some of these meds. Thanks for the suggestions.All the best,
Tez
> > Thanks for your advice. I have tried propanolol but unfortunately it did not help. I hope your condition has improved.
> >
> > All the best,
> > Tez
> >
> > > > Hi,
> > > > I have been diagnosed as suffering from akathisia (motor restlessness).
> > > >
> > > > I have come off the anti-psychotic (Haldol) some time ago but the akathisia is still a severe problem.
>
> There are several other possibilities, one which I can't say since as I'm not a doctor I'm not qualified to diagnose it, but there is a condition known as tardive akathisia, persistent after withdrawal. This usually though is after long term use of the medication.
>
> The other thing to consider is that one study has shown that haloperidol (Haldol) can have up to a 21 day half life (5 half lives are usually considered to be the point when a drug leaves your system, give or take). You may still have haloperidol metabolites in your system even at this moment.
>
> I would try to ask your doctor about Akineton -- he or she may not have heard of it, it is an older anticholinergic, but it has been used extensively in situations such as veterans hospitals and the like and may provide more relief than propranolol can. There is also Artane (trihexyphenidyl), which is similar, and a bit more well known.
>
> You haven't run out of options, there are more benzodiazepines than I think I can count on my hand besides Klonopin.
>
> Additionally, experimentally, esp for TD but other movement disorders as well, calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine (Procardia) and verapamil (Verelan) have been used as well.
>
>
> Hang in there and don't give up.
>
> The best.. cheers.
Posted by ed_uk on July 10, 2005, at 11:04:17
In reply to Re: AKATHISIA, posted by tez on July 10, 2005, at 8:38:50
Tez,
Have you ever taken Seroquel? It can sometimes 'mask' tardive extra-pyramidal symptoms which have previously been induced by other antipsychotics. I can understand that you might not want to take another antipsychotic though. Seroquel could be useful if you still require an antipsychotic.
~Ed
Posted by tez on July 11, 2005, at 15:45:47
In reply to Re: AKATHISIA » tez, posted by ed_uk on July 10, 2005, at 11:04:17
Hi,
I have heard of Seroquel but not sure I have taken it? I have tried so many!! What is it's generic name?
Cheers.
Tez> Tez,
>
> Have you ever taken Seroquel? It can sometimes 'mask' tardive extra-pyramidal symptoms which have previously been induced by other antipsychotics. I can understand that you might not want to take another antipsychotic though. Seroquel could be useful if you still require an antipsychotic.
>
> ~Ed
Posted by ed_uk on July 12, 2005, at 12:55:42
In reply to Re: AKATHISIA, posted by tez on July 11, 2005, at 15:45:47
Hi,
>What is it's generic name?
Quetiapine. No generic is available though, it's only available as Seroquel. Btw, do you live in the UK? .....perhaps I imagined that!
~Ed
This is the end of the thread.
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