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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 32. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on May 28, 2004, at 8:56:49
I am experiencing uncontrollable shivering and body jerks while on Celexa. Restarted it 2 weeks ago. I went to the emergency at the hospital and they said it would go a way and to go home. Stupid. I am so cold I want to kill myself.
What the heck do I do now ??Linkadge
Posted by zeugma on May 28, 2004, at 9:11:59
In reply to uncontrollable shivering, posted by linkadge on May 28, 2004, at 8:56:49
That sounds like serotonin syndrome. How high a dose are you on of celexa and are you on any other meds?
Posted by linkadge on May 28, 2004, at 10:54:05
In reply to Re: uncontrollable shivering » linkadge, posted by zeugma on May 28, 2004, at 9:11:59
I know it sounds like serotonin syndrome!, but the stupid doctors there wouldn't know it if they saw it.
I am just on 20 mg. If I cut back then I'm screwed, cause I'm suicidally depressed, and I can't get help.
Linkadge
Posted by psychosage on May 28, 2004, at 10:56:37
In reply to uncontrollable shivering, posted by linkadge on May 28, 2004, at 8:56:49
First of all, don't kill yourself!
This is an order.
Anyways, you should have told them you can't sleep and you are having unusual panic which would warrant an ativan prescription which is better than ambien or sonata because it is anticonvulsant and also a good thing for serotonin syndrome if that were the case.
Posted by zeugma on May 28, 2004, at 11:15:29
In reply to Re: uncontrollable shivering » linkadge, posted by psychosage on May 28, 2004, at 10:56:37
Dr. Gillman at http://www.psychotropical.com recommends chlorpromazine (for severe cases including high fever) or periactin for less febrile cases. I believe Periactin is available OTC in Canada, so you should get to a pharmacy ASAP and then go to a hospital if the symptoms don't abate and tell them you ran out of Thorazine if they are ignorant about serotonin syndrome.
Posted by crazychickuk on May 28, 2004, at 11:23:35
In reply to Re: uncontrollable shivering » linkadge, posted by psychosage on May 28, 2004, at 10:56:37
I was liek that when i was taking it, i was shivering, trembling, sweating, headache badly and my bp was up way up i was rushed into hospital and was told to stop at onece and they gave me an injection..... the following day i woke up feeling alot better and i went home... i dont know what happened... but if u r worried stop it and go see your doctor/physc..
Posted by Rainee on May 28, 2004, at 11:50:07
In reply to Re: uncontrollable shivering link, posted by crazychickuk on May 28, 2004, at 11:23:35
can you call your pdoc? If not go to another ER.
Posted by Emme on May 28, 2004, at 11:50:49
In reply to uncontrollable shivering, posted by linkadge on May 28, 2004, at 8:56:49
> I am experiencing uncontrollable shivering and body jerks while on Celexa. Restarted it 2 weeks ago. I went to the emergency at the hospital and they said it would go a way and to go home. Stupid. I am so cold I want to kill myself.
I didn't have body jerks, but I was so freezing cold I was miserable on Celexa. Interspered with occasionally breaking out in a sweat. I simply could not get warm. My pdoc said that sometimes these drugs can mess with your body thermostat.
> What the heck do I do now ??I wish I had an answer for you. I can just sympathize. After eight weeks or so we ditched it for a few reasons. Is it working as an AD for you? How long have you been on it? I hope someone else here as usable advice. Good luck.
Emme
Posted by Emme on May 28, 2004, at 11:55:36
In reply to uncontrollable shivering, posted by linkadge on May 28, 2004, at 8:56:49
Jeez, I didn't think of serotonin syndrome. So then I guess you are feeling cold b/c your body temp is elevated? I hope that by the time you are reading these you're improved.
Posted by linkadge on May 28, 2004, at 12:32:00
In reply to Oh, just read other posts...., posted by Emme on May 28, 2004, at 11:55:36
what are you taking now ??
Linkadge
Posted by Emme on May 28, 2004, at 12:47:50
In reply to what are you taking now emme ??, posted by linkadge on May 28, 2004, at 12:32:00
> what are you taking now ??
>
> LinkadgeCurrent main pharmaceuticals:
Lamictal 200 mg
Atenolol (sometimes) 25 mg
Xanax 0.25-0.5 mgOn hand for use as needed:
For tough-to-get-out anxiety/agitation - Keppra, sroquel
For when I'm an immovable slug - provigil, selegiline.
I haven't used any of the add-ons in several weeks. I haven't used provigil in a good 6 mos. or more.I'm supposed to be trying memantine, but I keep forgetting to take it. How stupid of me. I'm normally very conscientious with sticking to a trial.
I'm trying St. John's Wort at the moment. I'm on day 7. I'm playing with niacinamide and valerian in lieu of the xanax. They work, but so far I think I like xanax better.
I forget what else you are taking. Are you feeling better yet with the shaking/freezing? Did you find an ER to help you?
And....are you still rubbing a magnet on your head? I'm curious to see if it keeps working for you.
Emme
Posted by Emme on May 28, 2004, at 13:04:24
In reply to what are you taking now emme ??, posted by linkadge on May 28, 2004, at 12:32:00
Here's the zillionth post from me. I forget if you are agitated or anergic with your current depression.
If you're feeling suicidal and are really *sluggish*, selegiline has given me a rapid boost. Abilify has also - in about 48 hours. Of course I'm sure you'd want to make sure you've resolved your current symptoms. If abilify makes you too antsy to take for too long, it might do as a short term stopgap measure while you work on something else. Maybe you've tried these already. I'm just thinking off the top of my head about what might give you some relief relatively quickly.
If you're really agitated and depressed, ask your pdoc about a little trial of Keppra if you haven't already tried it. It's not an AD. It's kind of sedating and might zone your brain out for cognitive tasks, BUT I found it took the edge off emotions. I got a sort of "I don't care" feeling. Now one wouldn't want to live like that all the time, but a short-term dose of a little numbness can give you a break from despair. Again, just thinking and rambling.
Posted by linkadge on May 28, 2004, at 13:12:18
In reply to Oh, another thought. » linkadge, posted by Emme on May 28, 2004, at 13:04:24
I am just seeing a regular doctor right now. One who has probably never heard of using selegeline for depression. I feel too embarassed to go and ask for a medication by name, even though I know of a few killer cocktails that would help.
The last few doctors got *really* pissed off when I asked for a specific medication. It is like they think they had a more intricate sence of my body's workings than I do.Linkadge
Posted by zeugma on May 28, 2004, at 13:36:03
In reply to Re: Oh, another thought., posted by linkadge on May 28, 2004, at 13:12:18
> I am just seeing a regular doctor right now. One who has probably never heard of using selegeline for depression. I feel too embarassed to go and ask for a medication by name, even though I know of a few killer cocktails that would help.
> The last few doctors got *really* pissed off when I asked for a specific medication. It is like they think they had a more intricate sence of my body's workings than I do.
>
> Linkadge
>
i have asked for medications by name (most recently anafranil). It does seem to piss off my pdoc but what am I supposed to do when I spend all my time researching my condition and am suffering from tons of symptoms and i know he would MUCH rather continue me on what i have been on? I never ask for any meds by name, or even make general suggestions, unless I am desperate for alleviation of my symptoms. for example I have suffered from longstanding extreme fatigue and I naively mentioned Provigil, also I have always had terrible social phobia and brought up Paxil. He knows what my symptoms are and would always ask me "has your social anxiety improved?" and would seem content when i told him "No."With the latest incident, i was in severe despair earlier this week, I called him and told him I wanted to try Anafranil. He knows I have been in a terrible depression for over a month, and at our last meeting i had mentioned anafranil so this was not coming out of the blue.
The real issue is that given the current state of psychiatry the PATIENT knows more about what is going on inside his/her head than the doctor. My doctor is not there when I experience gut-wrenching despair when I leave work and my mood sinks like lead. He is not around when my sleep is disrupted by painful headaches and I feel like I'm having an epileptic seizure after i finally fall asleep. I have so many symptoms that i feel like a freak when i sit there explaining what's been happening, i feel like mentioning some drug or other might actually make me sound more normal :)
by the way linkadge it sounds like you're feeling, better, has your shivering stopped?>
>
>
Posted by Ann Marie T. on May 28, 2004, at 13:40:48
In reply to Re: Oh, another thought., posted by linkadge on May 28, 2004, at 13:12:18
>> The last few doctors got *really* pissed off when I asked for a specific medication. It is like they think they had a more intricate sence of my body's workings than I do.
How terrible! Docs can be so arrogant at times. Maybe it would helped if you pretended to defer to their "superior" intellect. For example say, "I've been reading a lot about medications on the internet and I know I'm not a doctor and medications are really complicated so could you answer some questions for me?" Then say, "I saw on a website that medication X would be really good for my condition because <insert reason here>, what do you think?"Maybe (s)he'll be more receptive.
Just a thought.
Posted by psychosage on May 28, 2004, at 14:41:54
In reply to Suggesting Meds to pdocs, posted by Ann Marie T. on May 28, 2004, at 13:40:48
linkadge,
you sound clever enough to act modest and humble, so be your own diplomat and ask for whatever med you desire but sprinkle some sugar on your request.
Not all doctors are the same, and I made an overt request for Effexor a month ago, and my pdoc thought it was a good idea.
My last pdoc let me choose whatever I wanted since I had tried so many. The truth is that they go by trial and error according to drug class, and when you have a record of going through most of the drugs in a certain class you have to be given an alternative option and that includes off label uses for drugs like selegiline.
I know you are depressed at the moment, so good luck.
I am not sure if you can have serotonin syndrome with hypothermia as opposed to hyperthermia, but I think I experienced it.
Keep writing to the board and hopefully, your willingness will grow despite discouraging past experiences.
Go to an emergency room if you are feeling like hurting yourself.
Yours,
Psychosage
Posted by Tesssi on May 28, 2004, at 22:24:10
In reply to LINKADGE, posted by psychosage on May 28, 2004, at 14:41:54
> linkadge,
>
> you sound clever enough to act modest and humble, so be your own diplomat and ask for whatever med you desire but sprinkle some sugar on your request.
>
> Not all doctors are the same, and I made an overt request for Effexor a month ago, and my pdoc thought it was a good idea.
>
> My last pdoc let me choose whatever I wanted since I had tried so many. The truth is that they go by trial and error according to drug class, and when you have a record of going through most of the drugs in a certain class you have to be given an alternative option and that includes off label uses for drugs like selegiline.
>
> I know you are depressed at the moment, so good luck.
>
> I am not sure if you can have serotonin syndrome with hypothermia as opposed to hyperthermia, but I think I experienced it.
>
> Keep writing to the board and hopefully, your willingness will grow despite discouraging past experiences.
>
> Go to an emergency room if you are feeling like hurting yourself.
>
> Yours,
>
> PsychosageYOU ASKED FOR EFFEXOR??? MAYBE I DON'T BELONG HERE EITHER, BUT YOUR CRAZY, I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND EFFEXOR TO MY ENEMY. IT IS POISON.
god forbid the day you forget it, or are in a situation where you don't have, or god forbid some of you ppl realize that maybe you don't need drugs and you need to deal with reality, the good the bad, the acceptance the rejection, all part of reality...doesn't anyone else get tired of being a fucking robot, programmed by drugs? THAT YOU CAN'T GET OFF OF????? NO, your the kind of ppl that pop a pill and watch a reality show because reality itself it's too real for you... maybe i sound harsh, but i am sorry, i can't even plant flowers, mow my lawn, go to the gym, on this effexor withdrawal...i want to live, AND I WILL.
Posted by Chairman_MAO on May 28, 2004, at 22:54:16
In reply to Re: LINKADGE, posted by Tesssi on May 28, 2004, at 22:24:10
A robot programmed by drugs? I feel you are projecting feelings you're having toward yourself onto someone else. I do not understand why you're so callous toward someone who's done you no wrong simply because they mentioned "Effexor".
Here's a lesson in pharmacology 101: drugs have effects. The brain gets used to said effects after a period of time. Is it rational to expect everything to snap back to normal instantly after the withdrawl of a drug which takes 4-6 weeks to produce its net effect? Both sides of the antidepressant withdrawl debate are whacked! How a medical doctor presumed competent enough to prescribe drugs could discount patient reports of withdrawl symptoms is beyond me. And how could someone not know that constant use of a drug induces some sort of dependence? It's intuitive! "What goes up, must come down!"
I feel the doctors are way more at fault here, for obvious reasons, but that it is important for people to know that just because it doesn't get you high, doesn't mean it doesn't induce dependence! This is what the TV commercials euphemistically hint at when they say "not habit forming", and no one in this debate ever comes out and says it.
Posted by crazychickuk on May 29, 2004, at 6:22:02
In reply to Re: LINKADGE, posted by Tesssi on May 28, 2004, at 22:24:10
Posted by Dr. Bob on May 29, 2004, at 7:37:51
In reply to Tesssi get your own life !! (nm), posted by crazychickuk on May 29, 2004, at 6:22:02
> YOUR CRAZY
> EFFEXOR ... IS POISON.
> doesn't anyone else get tired of being a f[*]cking robot, programmed by drugs?
> your the kind of ppl that pop a pill and watch a reality show because reality itself it's too real for you...
>
> TesssiI'm sorry things are hard for you, but please don't use language that could offend others, jump to conclusions about them, use language that could offend them, or exaggerate or overgeneralize.
> you're so callous
>
> Chairman_MAO> Tesssi get your own life !!
>
> crazychickukAnd please be sensitive to the feelings of others even if your own are hurt.
If any of you have any questions or comments about this or about posting policies in general, or are interested in alternative ways of expressing yourself, please see the FAQ:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil
or redirect a follow-up to Psycho-Babble Administration.
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by crazychickuk on May 29, 2004, at 8:08:06
In reply to Re: please be civil » Tesssi » Chairman_MAO » crazychickuk, posted by Dr. Bob on May 29, 2004, at 7:37:51
I aint done nothing...
Posted by Sad Panda on May 29, 2004, at 14:59:39
In reply to uncontrollable shivering, posted by linkadge on May 28, 2004, at 8:56:49
> I am experiencing uncontrollable shivering and body jerks while on Celexa. Restarted it 2 weeks ago. I went to the emergency at the hospital and they said it would go a way and to go home. Stupid. I am so cold I want to kill myself.
>
>
> What the heck do I do now ??
>
> Linkadge
>
>I've had that with Effexor. It's just a side effect of SSRI's. Serotonin sydrome early symptoms are agitation & hypomania.
What meds have you tried?
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by jlbl2l on May 29, 2004, at 15:36:40
In reply to uncontrollable shivering, posted by linkadge on May 28, 2004, at 8:56:49
Posted by almondjoy on May 29, 2004, at 23:14:44
In reply to uncontrollable shivering, posted by linkadge on May 28, 2004, at 8:56:49
> I am experiencing uncontrollable shivering and body jerks while on Celexa. Restarted it 2 weeks ago. I went to the emergency at the hospital and they said it would go a way and to go home. Stupid. I am so cold I want to kill myself.
>
>
> What the heck do I do now ??
>
> LinkadgeA few quick fixes...I get REALLY cold and shivering ALL winter, recently had TSH levels weird so it might be hypothyroid...but I'd try../
benzos (help alot)
warm drinks (help a bit)
or a warm bath (helps a ton), during the winter i fill the tub all the way up and lay up to my neck until it gets cool and then add more hot water...finally able to relax! for hourstake care
d
Posted by Tesssi on May 30, 2004, at 0:04:18
In reply to Re: please be civil » Tesssi » Chairman_MAO » crazychickuk, posted by Dr. Bob on May 29, 2004, at 7:37:51
Crazy girl..i am trying to get my own life...maye YOU need to be medicated to live, but not everyone does. I am sorry if i offended anyone, just expressed my feelings, i came here to find support for my effexor withdrawal, i didn't know everyone here believed in living pill to pill, rather than day to day. I know some ppl need meds and that is fine but isn't there anyone here that just needed them for a time...not a lifetime. My husband killed himself, and they gave me drugs to cope, i don't want drugs, they killed him, i can cope, he's gone, he's my angel now and i need God and support more than i need drugs.
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