Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 99768

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Restless and Extremely Anxious

Posted by Cressida on March 23, 2002, at 23:59:34

Has anyone ever felt really restless or anxious on Zyprexa? Last night I took 10mg instead of the prescribed 5mg I'm supposed to take for sleep, and since doing so I've been experiencing a relapse of sorts. I can barely concentrate enough to write this thread. I can't stop fidgeting and moving my legs. I feel internally panicked and scared. I wish I was seeing my doctor soon, but I don't see him for another week and a half. Can anxiety make a person really restless? I have ADD. Could that be the reason? God I'm freakin' out on the inside, yet I feel paralyzed that I can't do anything. I don't take anything like Klonopin or Xanax. Would a med like that help with this? I don't know what else to say. I want to cry, but I can't...I've had this feeling before, and it sucks big time. I just want to know if I'm experiencing a side-effect or a worsening of my symptoms. FYI I'm currently taking 20mg of Paxil, 36mg of Concerta and 5mg Zyprexa. Any suggestions will help a lot. Thanks...

 

Re: Restless and Extremely Anxious » Cressida

Posted by Chris A. on March 24, 2002, at 0:47:45

In reply to Restless and Extremely Anxious, posted by Cressida on March 23, 2002, at 23:59:34

Akathisia - been there and don't want to go back. Doubling your Zyprexa dose was most likely the culprit and reducing it back to 5 mg may help. The internal restlessness (a vast understatement) is usually caused by neuroleptics. Benzos can be pallitive, but don't get at the root cause, which requires reducing or eliminating the med causing the symptoms.
I rarely post, but identify strongly with what you're going through. I had to discontinue Geodon, which was supposed to be my miracle drug because of it. My hubby said he'd never seen me act so strangely. I had previously not understood the true definition of side effect called "akathisia" until experiencing it personally. It is readily reversible and does not mean that you are getting sicker.

Put a call into your doc and let him or her know what is going on. In the meantime don't go taking any extra Zyprexa!

Hope this helps,

Chris A.

 

Re: Restless and Extremely Anxious » Cressida

Posted by BarbaraCat on March 24, 2002, at 2:34:30

In reply to Restless and Extremely Anxious, posted by Cressida on March 23, 2002, at 23:59:34

Cressida,
Yes, I've had that experience. I don't take Zyprexa anymore, but did a few years ago. I was feeling extra anxious one night and took 10mg in stead of 5mg, just like you, hoping it would put me to sleep. Instead I got wired on it. Kind of tired and wired at the same time, like my head felt tight and and my body tense. I was up most of the night. I didn't get a full blown anxiety/panic attack (like it sounds like you're having) at that particular time, although I've had many, many of them. I'm not sure why this would happen, except that I suspect Zyprexa may influence dopamine and too much of that can send anyone with a tendency to anxiety into a spin.

I don't know what you're taking Zyprexa for, but if it's for anxiety disorder or depression mixed with anxiety (that's what I have) then Klonopin would be a much better choice, in my opinion. It's worked wonders for me, taken along with my other med mix.

Another big help for me has been regulating the CO2 in my bloodstream using breathing. Basically it's slowly exhaling until all the air is expelled from the lungs and at the end of the exhale, tighten the lower abs a little and push out a little more air. Pause for a count of 2 seconds and then relax the abs. You'll naturally take a full good inhale afterwards. Do this for as long as you want - it's good for you. This has helped with panic attacks and asthma. Hope you feel better soon. Barbara

 

Calmed Down Since Last Post

Posted by Cressida on March 24, 2002, at 18:56:43

In reply to Re: Restless and Extremely Anxious » Cressida, posted by BarbaraCat on March 24, 2002, at 2:34:30

Thanks a lot for your replies. I feel better now. Now I know not to play doctor by increasing the dosage. Seemed harmless at the time, considering that Zyprexa seems be helping in general; but the next day - boy did I pay the price. I never felt so internally restless and anxious. Maybe I should be taking something else for sleep besides Zyprexa? I've taken Seroquel, but it made me twitch a lot during sleep. I've also taken Klonopin and Ambien, but I became tolerant very fast; sometimes I had to take more than the prescribed dosage to get any beneficial affect on sleep. I would prefer to continue taking Zyprexa only because it seems safer with respect to addiction. The reason I took 10mg instead of 5mg last night was that I'm becoming tolerant to it as well. I don't get tired or drowsy when I take it; it had that affect during the first week. I don't know. It's frustrating. Is that what you guys call poop-out, when a drug loses it's designed affect? Anyhow, I guess I'll have to speak with my pdoc about this. Again, thanks for your replies. It's very reassuring to know that I'm not alone. Take care everyone.

~John (a.k.a. Cressida)


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