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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by hundredhugs on April 11, 2004, at 14:52:55
My pdoc has me on 4 mg of risperdal and 30 mg of abilify to control mania and psychoses (i am currently having troubles with mania). Anyway, I think i have what my pdoc called akathisia (like restless leg syndrome). Thing is I can't tell if it is physical racing or the akathisia. I get to moving hard and fast to the point of exhaustion by the time I finally calm down (prn's) I am totally drained and exhausted.
Anyone know much about akathisia?
hundredhugs
Posted by mistermindmasta on April 11, 2004, at 21:36:55
In reply to On abilify and Risperdal...causing akathisia??, posted by hundredhugs on April 11, 2004, at 14:52:55
I was on Compazine, about 5 years ago, for nausea. It blocks the nausea feelings in the brain, but also functions as an antipsychotic, blocking dopamine receptors in the nigrostriatal area which is the area that people are very concerned with when it comes to antipsychotic SE's. I felt ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE on this medication, and vow to never ever take a medicine that has a high potential for extrapyramidal side effects!
I felt depressed and restless to no end. The depressive feelings weren't too bad, but the akasthisia / restlessness was absolutely terrible terrible terrible (3 times for emphasis)!!!!!! It was easily the worst thing that I've ever felt in my entire life.I could not sit still comfortably for a minute. I slept a total of like maybe an hour in 3 days, and I normally can pull of 9 hours easy. I felt so uncomfortable and it was horrible!!
Anyway, so yes, I know what akathisia is like. It's a physical discomfort that comes with lack of physical movement. You feel restless. And it's caused by Risperdal blocking dopamine receptors in the Nigrostriatal region. It sucks!
Posted by hundredhugs on April 12, 2004, at 5:47:18
In reply to Re: On abilify and Risperdal...causing akathisia??, posted by mistermindmasta on April 11, 2004, at 21:36:55
Mastermind,
thank you for your response. Do you know if the abilify causes the akathisia as well? Risperdal is great for knocking out my manias but i have to go to high doses. Maybe I should switch to abilify, I hear it is good for knocking out maina too (and psychoses).
I appreciate you input
hundredhugs
Posted by utopizen on April 12, 2004, at 7:47:36
In reply to Re: On abilify and Risperdal...causing akathisia??, posted by hundredhugs on April 12, 2004, at 5:47:18
You can try Risperdal, but I did after Abilify caused me to feel restless and Risperdal caused me to feel inhuman. I had to sleep for 18 hours/day, and couldn't take it after three days of this.
At least with Abilify, my restlessness was something I could try to treat, with Geodon or Klonopin... heck, my leftover Neurontin was effective. I just was feeble to side-effects of drugs at the time, so didn't bother on asking my doc to add on anything for the side effects.
As with most side effects of these things, there's a good chance it's your body adjusting to the med, and that it'll go away if you wait it out... which isn't hard to do, provided you find the right relief from something like Geodon, which I haven't tried but heard good reports over. Remember, there's drugs to treat this available, and it's unlikely you'll have this problem for more than just a few weeks as your body adjusts-- and by that time you should begin noticing the positive effects... =)
> Mastermind,
>
> thank you for your response. Do you know if the abilify causes the akathisia as well? Risperdal is great for knocking out my manias but i have to go to high doses. Maybe I should switch to abilify, I hear it is good for knocking out maina too (and psychoses).
>
> I appreciate you input
> hundredhugs
Posted by cybercafe on April 13, 2004, at 16:21:50
In reply to On abilify and Risperdal...causing akathisia??, posted by hundredhugs on April 11, 2004, at 14:52:55
> My pdoc has me on 4 mg of risperdal and 30 mg of abilify to control mania and psychoses (i am currently having troubles with mania). Anyway, I think i have what my pdoc called akathisia (like restless leg syndrome). Thing is I can't tell if it is physical racing or the akathisia. I get to moving hard and fast to the point of exhaustion by the time I finally calm down (prn's) I am totally drained and exhausted.
>
> Anyone know much about akathisia?
>
> hundredhugsyeah i took 3.75 mg of abilify and it gave me akathisia, and a wired tired feeling... definately unpleasant... but it eventually went away.... i don't know how people can start at such a high dose (30 mg?) ... but i think propanolol or anti-cholinergics can help temporarily until it resolves ??
btw i am still taking abilify now and i LOVE it..... i just hate having to make the trip to the states .... when i am so motivated to do things here, make money, meet girls, socialize, exercise ..... but in a non hypomanic way
Posted by interject79 on April 13, 2004, at 17:17:06
In reply to On abilify and Risperdal...causing akathisia??, posted by hundredhugs on April 11, 2004, at 14:52:55
Abilify is known to produce akithisia. It was terrible when I tried it. There are ways to combat, if you get a great benefit from the med.
-interject
This is the end of the thread.
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