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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 jesus on February 4, 2003, at 16:17:53
for about two years now I've been experiancing bad anxiety which usually results in really bad muscle tension...I got on lexapro for anxiety/depression but of course the nevous twitching remains...I know that benzos are usually the right med for this but does anybody know of any others? Im afraid if I ask my pdoc about Klonopin or Xanax or something he'll write me off as an abuser and take me off of my much needed adderall (which ive been put on until recently to help me study...i doubt it has much to do with the muscle tension)
Posted by babs on February 4, 2003, at 19:04:25
In reply to meds for muscle tension?, posted by jesus on February 4, 2003, at 16:17:53
The only thing I have found to work for muscle tension was risperdal- an atypical antipsychotic- but these are SERIOUS drugs and I doubt your pdoc would consider them for muscle tension. I'd ask for a benzo first.
Posted by fachad on February 4, 2003, at 21:01:57
In reply to meds for muscle tension?, posted by jesus on February 4, 2003, at 16:17:53
There are a couple of non-controlled meds for muscle tension.
The most prescribed muscle relaxants from GPs are Flexaril (cyclobenzaprine), Robaxin (methocarbamol), and Soma (carisoprodol). These meds are prescription only but not controlled substances like the benzodiazapines.
Atarax and Vistaril (both hydroxyzine) are also non-controlled anti-anxiety meds that work for some against tension.
> for about two years now I've been experiancing bad anxiety which usually results in really bad muscle tension...I got on lexapro for anxiety/depression but of course the nevous twitching remains...I know that benzos are usually the right med for this but does anybody know of any others? Im afraid if I ask my pdoc about Klonopin or Xanax or something he'll write me off as an abuser and take me off of my much needed adderall (which ive been put on until recently to help me study...i doubt it has much to do with the muscle tension)
Posted by jflange on February 4, 2003, at 21:16:47
In reply to meds for muscle tension?, posted by jesus on February 4, 2003, at 16:17:53
Jesus:
In case you cannot get your pdoc to give you the benzo 'script:
Good quality, higher doses of Calcium/ Magnesium alongside of Potassium for balance (often lost with ssris) will alleviate anxiety-related muscle tension. Anyone who works in a health food store will be able to tell you the correct proportions to take for muscle tension (I think it is 2/1 Calcium/Magnesium, but cannot remember). I had this problem for years, especially muscles in chest, neck, arms, back, and have been helped with this supplement.Good luck!
jflange
Posted by babs on February 4, 2003, at 21:35:48
In reply to Re: Cal/Mag for muscle tension, posted by jflange on February 4, 2003, at 21:16:47
This is interesting as I suffered from horrible muscle tension for years before I started my current meds. How much potassium did you take? I'm curious because my last EKG showed that I wasn't getting enough potassium but when I tried to take a supplement I had really bad diarrhea.
Posted by jodie on February 4, 2003, at 21:39:12
In reply to meds for muscle tension?, posted by jesus on February 4, 2003, at 16:17:53
Hello...
fachad is right...you could ask for a muscle relaxant like Flexeril, I got a prescription for it once, and I occasionally use it. I am on Klonopin, pretty much everyday, 2 mg daily, and honestly, it doesn't relax my muscles like Flexeril. It is pretty good stuff.
Just go into your doc and tell him about your muscle tension and ask if there is anything you can take for it. Tell him it is really bothering you. Don't ask for anything specific. If he suggests a benzo, then great, if not maybe he will suggest a muscle relaxer. If he doesn't suggest anything, tell him you heard Klonopin can be good for muscle tension (also if you are having irritability or aggitation, it helps for that too..hint hint). So if you are having all those symptoms I would think he would be more likely to write you a script for it.
Of course Klonopin is a longer acting benzo than Xanax, so for muscle tension Klonopin would be a better choice than Xanax. Also Xanax tends to be more abused, or so they say, I wouldn't go in there and ask for it.
If he refuses to give you a benzo, thats when you should mention a muscle relaxer.
These are all just my personal opinions!!!!
Hope you get what you need to help you feel better.
Jodie
Posted by Mr.Scott on February 5, 2003, at 1:24:54
In reply to meds for muscle tension?, posted by jesus on February 4, 2003, at 16:17:53
I like Robaxin myself although it must be taken frequently during the day. I just asked my doc for some and he gave me a bunch after 3-4 consecutive days on it I'm in pretty good shape and done with them until the next episode. Stims and SSRIs Definately cause muscle tension for me. You might try benadryl as well at bedtime for a few nights. If your problem is mediated by Dopamine/Acetylcholine issues that SSRI's and Stims can cause.
Posted by Maisy on February 5, 2003, at 5:15:37
In reply to meds for muscle tension?, posted by jesus on February 4, 2003, at 16:17:53
http://bearpaw8.tripod.com/pd.html
Show your doc this article. I got it from someone on this website
a year or so ago. Very good.
Posted by jflange on February 5, 2003, at 17:56:13
In reply to Re: Cal/Mag for muscle tension, posted by babs on February 4, 2003, at 21:35:48
babs:
I have found that taking 99mg of Potassium (as Potassium Amino Acid Complex) works well without s/e's. But then again I take it along with approx. 1000 mg Calcium/ and 500 mg Magnesium for absorption and because apparently these supplements work in tandem. One can go higher than these doses if you feel like swallowing a load of pills. Magnesium works really well for muscle tension in the chest and neck/shoulder area after prolonged GAD-type stress, while Potassium is really effective in combatting med-related jimmy-leg, or the restless legs syndrome, often caused by anti-depressant and anti-anxiety meds themselves! (I am sure I heard about these effects from Psycho-Babble about a year ago).
If you are concerned about Potassium for heart reasons, I found a product that a company called Solaray puts out that has Magnesium and Potassium Asporotates with Bromelain. The last element is simply an anti-inflammatory found in pineapples, but I suppose it is important because inflammation is the new line of thinking in heart disease. I found it really calming and discovered it had a regulatory effect on my heart rate over time, probably because I was so Potassium-depleted from the SSRI I was taking!jflange
Posted by lostsailor on February 6, 2003, at 12:39:46
In reply to How much Cal/Mag/Potassium?, posted by jflange on February 5, 2003, at 17:56:13
Posted by lostsailor on February 6, 2003, at 12:41:15
In reply to How much Cal/Mag/Potassium?, posted by jflange on February 5, 2003, at 17:56:13
This is the end of the thread.
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