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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 cybercafe on June 19, 2003, at 0:59:00
anyone know about beta blockers, anticholinergics or other treatments for akathisia? do they work well?
Posted by ace on June 19, 2003, at 1:22:41
In reply to treatments for akathisia, posted by cybercafe on June 19, 2003, at 0:59:00
> anyone know about beta blockers, anticholinergics or other treatments for akathisia? do they work well?
Valium is meant to work well.
Ace.
Posted by Ritch on June 19, 2003, at 11:38:36
In reply to treatments for akathisia, posted by cybercafe on June 19, 2003, at 0:59:00
> anyone know about beta blockers, anticholinergics or other treatments for akathisia? do they work well?
Benadryl worked the best for me for various EPS symptoms.
Posted by cybercafe on June 19, 2003, at 14:05:58
In reply to Re: treatments for akathisia » cybercafe, posted by Ritch on June 19, 2003, at 11:38:36
> > anyone know about beta blockers, anticholinergics or other treatments for akathisia? do they work well?
>
> Benadryl worked the best for me for various EPS symptoms.cool, it works for akathisia? .. what are the side effects?
Posted by Ritch on June 19, 2003, at 23:20:49
In reply to Re: treatments for akathisia, posted by cybercafe on June 19, 2003, at 14:05:58
> > > anyone know about beta blockers, anticholinergics or other treatments for akathisia? do they work well?
> >
> > Benadryl worked the best for me for various EPS symptoms.
>
> cool, it works for akathisia? .. what are the side effects?
>Drowsiness, dry mouth are the only side effects I get from Benadryl. The first time I took Benadryl was when I had a severe EPS episode from one dose of Stelazine and went to the ER, they gave me intravenous Benadryl 100mg. My dystonia stopped instantly. I was given a script for 50mg Benadryl 4x daily to be taken for four days. Hey, I got to stay home from school!
Posted by cybercafe on June 20, 2003, at 1:45:10
In reply to Re: treatments for akathisia » cybercafe, posted by Ritch on June 19, 2003, at 23:20:49
> > > > anyone know about beta blockers, anticholinergics or other treatments for akathisia? do they work well?
> > >
> > > Benadryl worked the best for me for various EPS symptoms.
> >
> > cool, it works for akathisia? .. what are the side effects?
> >
>
> Drowsiness, dry mouth are the only side effects I get from Benadryl. The first time I took Benadryl was when I had a severe EPS episode from one dose of Stelazine and went to the ER, they gave me intravenous Benadryl 100mg. My dystonia stopped instantly. I was given a script for 50mg Benadryl 4x daily to be taken for four days. Hey, I got to stay home from school!damn i don't want to be drowsy all the time :(
does benadryl work well for akathisia or just dystonia?
Posted by Ritch on June 20, 2003, at 10:11:21
In reply to Re: treatments for akathisia, posted by cybercafe on June 20, 2003, at 1:45:10
> > > > > anyone know about beta blockers, anticholinergics or other treatments for akathisia? do they work well?
> > > >
> > > > Benadryl worked the best for me for various EPS symptoms.
> > >
> > > cool, it works for akathisia? .. what are the side effects?
> > >
> >
> > Drowsiness, dry mouth are the only side effects I get from Benadryl. The first time I took Benadryl was when I had a severe EPS episode from one dose of Stelazine and went to the ER, they gave me intravenous Benadryl 100mg. My dystonia stopped instantly. I was given a script for 50mg Benadryl 4x daily to be taken for four days. Hey, I got to stay home from school!
>
> damn i don't want to be drowsy all the time :(
>
> does benadryl work well for akathisia or just dystonia?
>
>It worked miraculously for the dystonia-it was a neck torticollis thingie and I went from a contortionist into a normal person instantly. Restlessness wasn't expressed physically with the Stelazine episode-it was an intense anxiety-feeling of doom-an inner restlessness. Haldol is the one that gave me the shuffles (AND dystonia). I was treated with valium for that episode (and off the Haldol), the valium worked for the shuffles, but I still had dystonia if I tried to walk. Benadryl has helped akathisia before, but it works on dystonia better I think. You might try a straight anticholinergic like Artane or Cogentin instead (less drowsiness than benadryl), or try clonazepam.
Posted by cybercafe on June 21, 2003, at 4:54:44
In reply to Re: treatments for akathisia » cybercafe, posted by Ritch on June 20, 2003, at 10:11:21
weird, it seems benadryl is an anti-histamine, i wonder why that would help ....
so now it seems the four meds to try are
1) beta blockers
2) anticholinergics
3) benzos
4) anti histamines> It worked miraculously for the dystonia-it was a neck torticollis thingie and I went from a contortionist into a normal person instantly. Restlessness wasn't expressed physically with the Stelazine episode-it was an intense anxiety-feeling of doom-an inner restlessness. Haldol is the one that gave me the shuffles (AND dystonia). I was treated with valium for that episode (and off the Haldol), the valium worked for the shuffles, but I still had dystonia if I tried to walk. Benadryl has helped akathisia before, but it works on dystonia better I think. You might try a straight anticholinergic like Artane or Cogentin instead (less drowsiness than benadryl), or try clonazepam.
>
Posted by Ritch on June 21, 2003, at 18:16:49
In reply to Re: treatments for akathisia, posted by cybercafe on June 21, 2003, at 4:54:44
The reason why Benadryl works is because of its anitcholinergic activity not because of its antihistaminic properties. Benadryl is often used for diarrhea, intestinal allergies, etc. I use it (12.5mg) with a little clonazepam for situations that tend to provoke panic, and it works better than either one alone. It would be better to say that Benadryl is an anticholinergic drug that is also a potent antihistamine.
> weird, it seems benadryl is an anti-histamine, i wonder why that would help ....
> so now it seems the four meds to try are
> 1) beta blockers
> 2) anticholinergics
> 3) benzos
> 4) anti histamines
>
> > It worked miraculously for the dystonia-it was a neck torticollis thingie and I went from a contortionist into a normal person instantly. Restlessness wasn't expressed physically with the Stelazine episode-it was an intense anxiety-feeling of doom-an inner restlessness. Haldol is the one that gave me the shuffles (AND dystonia). I was treated with valium for that episode (and off the Haldol), the valium worked for the shuffles, but I still had dystonia if I tried to walk. Benadryl has helped akathisia before, but it works on dystonia better I think. You might try a straight anticholinergic like Artane or Cogentin instead (less drowsiness than benadryl), or try clonazepam.
> >
>
>
Posted by cybercafe on June 22, 2003, at 18:50:42
In reply to Re: treatments for akathisia » cybercafe, posted by Ritch on June 21, 2003, at 18:16:49
> The reason why Benadryl works is because of its anitcholinergic activity not because of its antihistaminic properties. Benadryl is often used for diarrhea, intestinal allergies, etc. I use it (12.5mg) with a little clonazepam for situations that tend to provoke panic, and it works better than either one alone. It would be better to say that Benadryl is an anticholinergic drug that is also a potent antihistamine.
hmmmmmm.... anxiety is something i usually "feel" and i have noticed my heart rate and blood pressure going up .... i wonder if i could get my on a high dose of beta blockers or if there would be complications ...
for me with anxiety it's often
1) feel confident 2) take action 3) notice symptoms of anxiety, fast heart beat, blushing, tremors, swallow hard, eyes watering, and then 4) say to myself "i'm feeling anxious"
Benadryl: i'm curious, why do you prefer it to a more selective anticholinergic like cogentin?funny, i met a psychiatrist on the weekend in a social setting, and i was helping him with his shyness or lack of aggressiveness ..... he had no idea i was a "mental health consumer".... makes me wonder if i'm taking too much ativan
anyways mitch.... thanks again for replying... it makes me feel both secure? and hopeful knowing that there is someone always willing to listen, and perhaps more importantly, dispense invaluable advise
it seems really unfair that there are people out there half as focused on work one tenth as important getting wealthy while our efforts go unrewarded
someone give me the name of a good anti-emetic so i can go to med school
Posted by Ritch on June 22, 2003, at 23:21:16
In reply to Re: treatments for akathisia, posted by cybercafe on June 22, 2003, at 18:50:42
> > The reason why Benadryl works is because of its anitcholinergic activity not because of its antihistaminic properties. Benadryl is often used for diarrhea, intestinal allergies, etc. I use it (12.5mg) with a little clonazepam for situations that tend to provoke panic, and it works better than either one alone. It would be better to say that Benadryl is an anticholinergic drug that is also a potent antihistamine.
>
> hmmmmmm.... anxiety is something i usually "feel" and i have noticed my heart rate and blood pressure going up .... i wonder if i could get my on a high dose of beta blockers or if there would be complications ...
> for me with anxiety it's often
> 1) feel confident 2) take action 3) notice symptoms of anxiety, fast heart beat, blushing, tremors, swallow hard, eyes watering, and then 4) say to myself "i'm feeling anxious"
>
>Never tried any beta blockers. Pdoc tells me they are too depressogenic for me too try.
> Benadryl: i'm curious, why do you prefer it to a more selective anticholinergic like cogentin?It is cheap, OTC, and I like the mild sedation, plus I do have allergies.
>
> funny, i met a psychiatrist on the weekend in a social setting, and i was helping him with his shyness or lack of aggressiveness ..... he had no idea i was a "mental health consumer".... makes me wonder if i'm taking too much ativan
>
> anyways mitch.... thanks again for replying... it makes me feel both secure? and hopeful knowing that there is someone always willing to listen, and perhaps more importantly, dispense invaluable advise
>
> it seems really unfair that there are people out there half as focused on work one tenth as important getting wealthy while our efforts go unrewarded
>
> someone give me the name of a good anti-emetic so i can go to med school
>
>
>
>
Anti-emetic... I think Benadryl possesses this property as well. But Phenergan probably would work best.
Posted by cybercafe on June 23, 2003, at 23:50:33
In reply to Re: treatments for akathisia » cybercafe, posted by Ritch on June 22, 2003, at 23:21:16
Posted by kojiro on October 4, 2003, at 2:55:35
In reply to Re: treatments for akathisia, posted by cybercafe on June 21, 2003, at 4:54:44
Hi! First time thread here. My 27 year old
schizophrenic son got antsy and suicidal after
being injected Haldol. (Akathisia.) The doctor
stopped Haldol completely and put him on Seroquel
and Cogentin. Question 1 -- How long before he
stops his compulsive pacing? Could it be permanent? In which case he would probably
get suicidal. Q2 I thought stopping Haldol cold turkey was dangerous? Q3 Are there any anti-psychotics out there that DON'T cause akathisia? Haldol is obviously the
worst, but Seroquel and Abilify are not that safe
if you read the other postings. Q4 Why do so
many doctors seem to avoid propanol as a last
resort for treating akathisia although the
literature praises it? Thank you! Kojiro.
Please reply using the numbers? E.g. Answer 1.
Posted by jtevers on November 19, 2003, at 16:29:56
In reply to Re: treatments for akathisia, posted by kojiro on October 4, 2003, at 2:55:35
> Hi! First time thread here. My 27 year old
> schizophrenic son got antsy and suicidal after
> being injected Haldol. (Akathisia.) The doctor
> stopped Haldol completely and put him on Seroquel
> and Cogentin. Question 1 -- How long before he
> stops his compulsive pacing? Could it be permanent? In which case he would probably
> get suicidal. Q2 I thought stopping Haldol cold turkey was dangerous? Q3 Are there any anti-psychotics out there that DON'T cause akathisia? Haldol is obviously the
> worst, but Seroquel and Abilify are not that safe
> if you read the other postings. Q4 Why do so
> many doctors seem to avoid propanol as a last
> resort for treating akathisia although the
> literature praises it? Thank you! Kojiro.
> Please reply using the numbers? E.g. Answer 1.
>i can only speak from personal experience and i am not a medical professional... my entire caseload consists of myself ... that said ...
i had been hospitalized in 2000 and placed on seroquel and neurontin ... i can distinctly recall pacing the hallways for several (4-6) months and at times exhibiting a profound tremor in my hand before, at the end of this period, it calmed ... i am not aware of whether or not akathisia usually abates with time or not ... mine seems to have ... despite drowsiness and a current weight issue, ingesting seroquel has become relatively benign feeling.
it is ironic that, owed to the weight i have gained, i believe may be due to my antipsychotic treatment, that i may start all over ... replacing seroquel with abilify ( and its more extreme propensity to cause akathisia ... i hope will also abate, but, hopeful, weight neutrallity).
i have read that, along with propanolol, amantidine is an option if you experience akathisia, but, again, i have only recently proposed this switch to my doctor (along with the amantidine) and cannot say how i or he will react...
i have experimented with abilify once for several days and so know i will experience akathisia, hence the prophylactic use of, perhaps, amantidine ... you see, i had also taken propanolol many years ago for a slight tremor and am hoping the amantidine will not be as tranquilizing?
This is the end of the thread.
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