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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by utopizen on July 11, 2004, at 18:43:42
Okay, I started my Zoloft+Remeron regimen two weeks ago, and am noticing what I think is fewer episodes of feeling helplessness through the day.
I've been on Abilify 15mg for a month now. The pacing in my room started way before I was on anything, except for the Klonopin-- which didn't stop my restlessness/pacing.
I have beta blockers, should I try those? They're leftovers and were used to treat my social anxiety. The Zoloft I think is helping me feel better around people, unlike any of the other SRRIs I've tried.
I'm also on Cogentin, 10mg(i think) 2x/day. I've tried taking a couple later in the day, and it doesn't seem to help. But I have to say the pacing is more controllable now that I went on it-- I can convince myself to stop most of the time, though it's hard.
So Cogentin is giving me partial response to the pacing, but now it just seems it's entirely being fueled by my depression itself.
Anyone have ideas??
Posted by cpallen79 on July 11, 2004, at 22:09:38
In reply to Depression-induced restlessness/pacing- HELP!, posted by utopizen on July 11, 2004, at 18:43:42
It sounds liek you hae whats called Akathisia, which is a common SE of neuroleptics... talk to your PDOC abotu perhaps decreasing the dose or trying something else, no one deserves to go through that torture.
Best,
Chris
Posted by Laree on July 15, 2004, at 0:50:04
In reply to Depression-induced restlessness/pacing- HELP!, posted by utopizen on July 11, 2004, at 18:43:42
A friend of mine took Abilify & said it made her pace like crazy. As I recall, she said she paced for days while on it, that she felt as though she just could not stop pacing. It sounded like a horrible (and kind of scary) experience to me! She switched to Seroquel (+ Zoloft) & seemed to like the combination. I don't know what you're taking the Abilify for, but she's bipolar and took it for that I guess.
I've been on Zoloft a few different times. The last time I was on it my dose was upped from 50 to 100 mg./day. After giving 100 mg./day a go I still felt depressed--maybe even MORE so than on the 50 mg...
Also, at 100 mg. I found I was having problems with extreme social anxiety (which was unusual for me).
So one day I decided not to take any of it for the day. From that short experiment I found I felt much better being off of it.
I called my pdoc at once and I got my antidepressant switched. While I don't recommend taking your own 'drug holidays' or whatever, it's something you might want to consider doing with your pdoc's blessing if the Zoloft isn't alleviating depression for you.
Same thing with the Abilify--you can see if taking a break from it stops the pacing. Trial med breaks can be a great way of finding out if a particular drug is helping or just helping to hurt you further.
Best,
L.>
> I've been on Abilify 15mg for a month now. The pacing in my room started way before I was on anything, except for the Klonopin-- which didn't stop my restlessness/pacing.
>
> I have beta blockers, should I try those? They're leftovers and were used to treat my social anxiety. The Zoloft I think is helping me feel better around people, unlike any of the other SRRIs I've tried.
>
> I'm also on Cogentin, 10mg(i think) 2x/day. I've tried taking a couple later in the day, and it doesn't seem to help. But I have to say the pacing is more controllable now that I went on it-- I can convince myself to stop most of the time, though it's hard.
>
> So Cogentin is giving me partial response to the pacing, but now it just seems it's entirely being fueled by my depression itself.
>
> Anyone have ideas??
Posted by Sebastian on July 15, 2004, at 11:05:47
In reply to Depression-induced restlessness/pacing- HELP!, posted by utopizen on July 11, 2004, at 18:43:42
Find something to take your mind off of pacing. Might take a while, but good freinds or a job can help.
Posted by Philidor on July 15, 2004, at 12:25:05
In reply to Depression-induced restlessness/pacing- HELP!, posted by utopizen on July 11, 2004, at 18:43:42
Yes indeed, someone a few day ago had a similar problem. Let me paste here what I told him:
"Look, I'm not a doctor and I don't even play one on TV, but I know the hell of akathisia (I thought it was from alcohol withdrawal, but it was really the Compazine (prochlorperazine)I was taking for my hangover!)>
Diphenhydramine, that's right, good old Benedryl, seems to be what works. SEE LINK BELOW:
akathesia, which as I said I have experienced, is a really miserable inner restlessness that makes it impossible for you to rest, work read or do anything comforably without having to get up, pace about, sit down again, pace some more, etc. It can be HORRIBlE, but normally fades after a few hours and NEVER leads to anything serious. It is just VERY unpleasant.My sympathies and good luck!
Phil
Posted by cpallen79 on July 15, 2004, at 14:43:24
In reply to Re: Depression-induced restlessness/pacing- HELP!, posted by Philidor on July 15, 2004, at 12:25:05
That woudl be me that went through that hell. I suspect that it's akathisia. Perhaps do a med change of some sort. Akathisia to a cetain extent feels like anxiety/agitated depression... it is a horrible horrible feeling, but is not permanent. Defientely discuss a med change with your PDOC.
Yes indeed, someone a few day ago had a similar problem. Let me paste here what I told him:
>
> "Look, I'm not a doctor and I don't even play one on TV, but I know the hell of akathisia (I thought it was from alcohol withdrawal, but it was really the Compazine (prochlorperazine)I was taking for my hangover!)>
>
> Diphenhydramine, that's right, good old Benedryl, seems to be what works. SEE LINK BELOW:
>
> http://www2.us.elsevierhealth.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?action=searchDB&searchDBfor=art&artType=abs&id=a113032&nav=abs "
>
>
> akathesia, which as I said I have experienced, is a really miserable inner restlessness that makes it impossible for you to rest, work read or do anything comforably without having to get up, pace about, sit down again, pace some more, etc. It can be HORRIBlE, but normally fades after a few hours and NEVER leads to anything serious. It is just VERY unpleasant.
>
> My sympathies and good luck!
>
> Phil
>
Posted by Sebastian on July 15, 2004, at 17:38:10
In reply to Re: Depression-induced restlessness/pacing- HELP!, posted by cpallen79 on July 15, 2004, at 14:43:24
I use to pace with and without meds. It just took me a while befor I got it under control. I kept one of the meds for many years after I stoped pacing. It went away. Pacing can be from the illness too.
This is the end of the thread.
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