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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 paul forsyth on September 28, 2005, at 3:53:24
My girlfriend suffers from schizophrenia and is generally well at
present on her medication,which is 500mg solian and 7.5mg kemadrin
daily. However ,she suffers with one major problem in which several
times weekly ,particularly when she excercises she gets a rapid
movement
of her eyelids which is visible to me, and also what she describes as a
feeling that her eyes are going up in her head. This is accompanied by
an extreme feeling of anxiety.If she gets it particularly bad ,her arm
may also start to spasm uncontrollably. If she takes cogentin with her
solian
instead of kemadrin or akineton she never gets this problem.However
cogentin has been discontinued in ireland ,where we live,and the doctor
will not prescribe it.The psychiatrist she attends cannot give us a reason why this
happens and doesnt seem to be very willing to help us find a solution. My
girlfriend is at her wits end with this problem which is ruining her
life and nobody except me seems to care.Can any of you advise me what
to do or where I can get help to find out what this problem is and how
to solve it. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Posted by SLS on September 28, 2005, at 8:38:04
In reply to SERIOUS SIDE EFFECT. ADVICE NEEDED., posted by paul forsyth on September 28, 2005, at 3:53:24
Hi.
A poster here named Ed_UK will probably drop in and provide you with answers.
You can:
1. Reduce the dosage of Solian.
2. Replace Solian using another antipsychotic that has a reduced risk of producing EPS side effects. Seroquel (quetiapine) or Zyprexa (olanzapine) might make good alternatives.
3. Try using different anticholinergics to replace the Cogentin with. Artane (trihexyphenidyl) might be worth a try.
If it were me, I would probably try switching to another antpsychotic. I do believe the risk of EPS is lower with the newer "atypical" drugs than with Solian or Dogmatil. I would add the new drug first and then remove the old one gradually. This way, a relapse can be quickly addressed by simply raising the dosage of the old drug back to its original dosage.
- Scott> My girlfriend suffers from schizophrenia and is generally well at
> present on her medication,which is 500mg solian and 7.5mg kemadrin
> daily. However ,she suffers with one major problem in which several
> times weekly ,particularly when she excercises she gets a rapid
> movement
> of her eyelids which is visible to me, and also what she describes as a
> feeling that her eyes are going up in her head. This is accompanied by
> an extreme feeling of anxiety.If she gets it particularly bad ,her arm
> may also start to spasm uncontrollably. If she takes cogentin with her
> solian
> instead of kemadrin or akineton she never gets this problem.However
> cogentin has been discontinued in ireland ,where we live,and the doctor
> will not prescribe it.The psychiatrist she attends cannot give us a reason why this
> happens and doesnt seem to be very willing to help us find a solution. My
> girlfriend is at her wits end with this problem which is ruining her
> life and nobody except me seems to care.Can any of you advise me what
> to do or where I can get help to find out what this problem is and how
> to solve it. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
>
Posted by crazy teresa on September 28, 2005, at 12:02:37
In reply to SERIOUS SIDE EFFECT. ADVICE NEEDED., posted by paul forsyth on September 28, 2005, at 3:53:24
I think I would get her to a neurologist. There might be something going on which is not related to the medications she's on.
crazy teresa
Posted by ed_uk on September 28, 2005, at 14:06:24
In reply to SERIOUS SIDE EFFECT. ADVICE NEEDED., posted by paul forsyth on September 28, 2005, at 3:53:24
Hi Paul,
>her eyes are going up in her head
This a called a dystonia - it is a side effect of Solian. This particular type of dystonia is called an oculogyric crisis.
>If she takes cogentin with her solian instead of kemadrin or akineton she never gets this problem.......
Kemadrin should work just as well but she needs a higher dose. She could try taking 5mg three times a day.
Kind regards
~ed
Posted by blueberry on September 28, 2005, at 18:19:45
In reply to SERIOUS SIDE EFFECT. ADVICE NEEDED., posted by paul forsyth on September 28, 2005, at 3:53:24
Switching to zyprexa sounds like a good idea to me. I mean, if solian is causing these kinds of problems today, what about a year from now, two years from now, five years from...it's only going to get worse. Anything you try to do to treat it is probably only going to work for a little while if it works at all. Best thing to do is remove the offending medication and replace it. SLS suggested zyprexa, and I like that idea.
Posted by Phillipa on September 28, 2005, at 18:32:32
In reply to Re: SERIOUS SIDE EFFECT. ADVICE NEEDED., posted by blueberry on September 28, 2005, at 18:19:45
Is clozaril an option just wondering. I saw a lot of pts really respond to it. But frequent blood tests are needed. Fondly, Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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