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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 65. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ace on January 29, 2006, at 9:34:11
Ok....I'm off this stuff...abilify made me anxious and gave me bad akathisia...I needed two IV doses of Cogentin (man that stuff is good) to stop it it was so uncomfortable.
My next move is 1mg Stelazine.....an extremely low dose considering some hospitalised people go up to 80mg.....
Just letting you all know what's going on in the land of Ace!!
Ace
Posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 10:16:43
In reply to 10mg Abilify.........Akathisia, posted by ace on January 29, 2006, at 9:34:11
I know of akathisia all too well. I have Tardive akathisia, in other words, I have akathisia that will last the rest of my life. It never ceases. I haven't been on any "crazy meds" for a avery long time either. Tardive akathisia never goes away, even when the causitive drugs are stopped.
At the moment my internist is trying me on benzodiazepines because they are slighty effective for the Tardive form of it.
But can you imagine having akathisia for the rest of your life. That is what I have and people wonder why I hate those dangerous drugs so much. The suffering is something few people will ever know of.
Posted by sleepygirl on January 29, 2006, at 10:28:03
In reply to Re: 10mg Abilify.........Akathisia, posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 10:16:43
Posted by ace on January 29, 2006, at 10:30:23
In reply to Re: 10mg Abilify.........Akathisia, posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 10:16:43
Please try a combination of the following....
1. Cogentin (oral)
2. Propranol
3. Valium 10mg
4. Clozapine (this is an antipsychotic with NO risk of akathisia or dyskinesias and helps these very conditions)Try these daily.
Im sorry for your pain. Tardive Akathisia is STILL reversible, so please don't loose faith...it can go. I read in a very scholarlky article a man who had it for 3 years, and it just went.
God Bless and my thoughts are with you......please stay strong and always keep faith...
Ace
Posted by ace on January 29, 2006, at 10:31:33
In reply to what is your intention on this site? (nm) » fenix, posted by sleepygirl on January 29, 2006, at 10:28:03
Posted by sleepygirl on January 29, 2006, at 10:32:48
In reply to Re: what is your intention of that question? (nm) » sleepygirl, posted by ace on January 29, 2006, at 10:31:33
Posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 10:38:15
In reply to Re: 10mg Abilify.........Akathisia » fenix, posted by ace on January 29, 2006, at 10:30:23
> Please try a combination of the following....
>
> 1. Cogentin (oral)
> 2. Propranol
> 3. Valium 10mg
> 4. Clozapine (this is an antipsychotic with NO risk of akathisia or dyskinesias and helps these very conditions)
>
> Try these daily.
>
> Im sorry for your pain. Tardive Akathisia is STILL reversible, so please don't loose faith...it can go. I read in a very scholarlky article a man who had it for 3 years, and it just went.
>
> God Bless and my thoughts are with you......please stay strong and always keep faith...
>
> AceWow, I've met someone who knows what tardive akathisia is, I sometimes meet nurses who don't even know what normal akathisia is.
Thanks, that is very helpful. I have tried propranolol before but it didn't do anything. Right now I am on clonazepam. I have heard of clozapine but I am scared to take another neuroleptic.
There are also dopamine-depleter drugs which might work, but in any case this is quite a nightmare.
I actually suffered with TA for 2 years without any relief before a neurologist finally diagnosed me with it.
I don't see a psychiatrist anymore and I never will again, I haven't for 2 years ever since this TA started. I hate those drugs they have ruined everything.
Posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 10:40:05
In reply to Re: 10mg Abilify.........Akathisia » fenix, posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 10:38:15
umm... and what are with those posts about "intentions", this is getting confusing.
Posted by sleepygirl on January 29, 2006, at 10:41:05
In reply to Re: 10mg Abilify.........Akathisia, posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 10:40:05
Posted by Dr. Bob on January 29, 2006, at 10:49:44
In reply to crazy meds fenix? what was that? (nm) » fenix, posted by sleepygirl on January 29, 2006, at 10:41:05
Posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 10:56:39
In reply to crazy meds fenix? what was that? (nm) » fenix, posted by sleepygirl on January 29, 2006, at 10:41:05
Oh, sorry about that. I was being a little sarcastic/funny (at least I was attempting to be), that is why I put quotes around "crazy meds" (or at least I think I put quotes around them..).
Anyway, I know how sensitive the whole thing is, with stigma and all. I doubt few people if any are actually "crazy" here. Anyway, I wasn't intending to be offensive to any demographic.
Posted by James K on January 29, 2006, at 11:55:57
In reply to Re: crazy meds fenix? what was that?, posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 10:56:39
Hey fenix,
I'm also very worried about TA. I'm fortunate not to have it, but Atypicals did mess up my metabolism some a few years ago. I always quit my meds, so I stopped before it was too late.I will personally never take an antipsychotic again, but I'm not schizophrenic, and I haven't exhausted all my other options yet. I have close friends in treatment who really have to do "something" because it really has become life or death.
I just wanted to say I can see where you are coming from with your strong feelings. I wish I had some science to give you on the benzo question as well, but there have been lots of posts here along the way so maybe there is some concrete info there.
This site has some strong and perhaps strange rules about the conversations, and it appears you have rubbed some the wrong way. All I can tell you is once you get used to the style this is a great place. I'm assuming you are new here. I have no offical capacity, I'm just filling you in. No offense intended in any way.
James K
Posted by gibber on January 29, 2006, at 12:21:43
In reply to Re: 10mg Abilify.........Akathisia, posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 10:16:43
Lets be clear here. Tardive dyskinesia is where your face has uncontrollable twitches. Ace's original post mentioned akathisia, which is a persistant restlessness of the body.
Posted by James K on January 29, 2006, at 12:30:12
In reply to Akathisia vs. Tardive dyskinesia, posted by gibber on January 29, 2006, at 12:21:43
I haven't got all the terms throughly understood yet. It's a new area of interest for me.
and once I start posting I can't go back and restudy the previous posts, so I'm kind of flying blind. no offense meant by my carelessness.
james k
Posted by theo on January 29, 2006, at 12:43:06
In reply to 10mg Abilify.........Akathisia, posted by ace on January 29, 2006, at 9:34:11
> Ok....I'm off this stuff...abilify made me anxious and gave me bad akathisia...I needed two IV doses of Cogentin (man that stuff is good) to stop it it was so uncomfortable.
>
> My next move is 1mg Stelazine.....an extremely low dose considering some hospitalised people go up to 80mg.....
>
> Just letting you all know what's going on in the land of Ace!!
>
> AceDid you ever think about 5mg or even 2.5mg of Abilify? Most doctors start patients out at 2.5mg or 5mg, I can even feel 1.25mg. It's diffently potent and doesn't take near as much as what some doctors initially prescribe. At just 1.25mg-2.5mg, started back on it yesterday, I noticed immediate results and felt more energized, even sex last night with my girlfriend was more intense. Abilify can definitly pull you out of a depressive slump, but if the dose gets to high and you experience akathisia, that does suck.
Posted by theo on January 29, 2006, at 12:46:36
In reply to Re: 10mg Abilify.........Akathisia, posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 10:16:43
> But can you imagine having akathisia for the rest of your life. That is what I have and people wonder why I hate those dangerous drugs so much. The suffering is something few people will ever know of.
What med caused it for you, one of the older antipsychotics?
Posted by Jakeman on January 29, 2006, at 13:40:53
In reply to 10mg Abilify.........Akathisia, posted by ace on January 29, 2006, at 9:34:11
Ace,
I'm starting to wonder if I have some level of Akathisia. I have severe inner restlessness. I find it almost impossible to just sit down and relax. I pace a lot. I never was like this until I took Prozac some years ago, now it seems to be a permanent state.
How severe are your symptons?
I found this article interesting:
"Vitamin B6 treatment in acute neuroleptic-induced akathisia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study."~Jake
Posted by ed_uk on January 29, 2006, at 14:50:28
In reply to Re: 10mg Abilify.........Akathisia, B-6 » ace, posted by Jakeman on January 29, 2006, at 13:40:53
Hi Jake
Thanks for posting the study :)
Ed
Posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 15:11:58
In reply to Re: 10mg Abilify.........Akathisia » fenix, posted by theo on January 29, 2006, at 12:46:36
Geodon did. And it also had to do with being on like medicines for three years or so.
Posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 15:13:31
In reply to Re: 10mg Abilify.........Akathisia, B-6 » ace, posted by Jakeman on January 29, 2006, at 13:40:53
I also read somewhere that Vitamin E may be useful for Tardive Dyskinesia which is related to Tardive Akathisia. Probably not though.
Posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 15:14:42
In reply to Akathisia vs. Tardive dyskinesia, posted by gibber on January 29, 2006, at 12:21:43
Yes, but there is also a Tardive form of akathisia... hope this isn't getting all confusing.
Posted by Chairman_MAO on January 29, 2006, at 15:30:20
In reply to 10mg Abilify.........Akathisia, posted by ace on January 29, 2006, at 9:34:11
Who takes 80mg of Stelazine, inpatient Elephants!?!
Posted by ed_uk on January 29, 2006, at 15:58:15
In reply to 10mg Abilify.........Akathisia, posted by ace on January 29, 2006, at 9:34:11
Hi ACE
10mg Abilify was far too much. Unless you're acutely psychotic or manic you should start at a much lower dose.
>I needed two IV doses of Cogentin (man that stuff is good) to stop it it was so uncomfortable.
You liked Cogentin a lot?
>My next move is 1mg Stelazine
Low doses of trifluoperazine (Stelazine), haloperidol (Haldol, Serenace) and similar neuroleptics can sometimes be helpful for anxiety in the short term but the risk of TD is high in the long term. Akathisia is very common with high potency neuroleptics. Take care. Why not just try a (much) lower dose of Abilify?
>some hospitalised people go up to 80mg.....
That would be very uncommon these days, although such high doses were used in the past.
Ed
Posted by ed_uk on January 29, 2006, at 16:09:56
In reply to 10mg Abilify.........Akathisia, posted by ace on January 29, 2006, at 9:34:11
Manufacturer's recommendations:
Non-psychotic generalised anxiety.......
'Usual dosage is 1 or 2 mg twice daily. Do not administer at doses of more than 6 mg per day or for longer than 12 weeks.'
'When used in the treatment of non-psychotic anxiety, Stelazine should not be administered at doses of more than 6 mg per day or for longer than 12 weeks because the use of Stelazine at higher doses or for longer intervals may cause persistent tardive dyskinesia that may prove irreversible'
I would personally avoid taking single doses of more than 1mg.
Still, are you sure you need a high potency neuroleptic ACE? I thought you were doing well on Nardil, and that your anxiety was under control. Neuroleptics are not an appropriate treatment for mild anxiety.
Take care
Ed
Posted by gibber on January 29, 2006, at 16:36:34
In reply to Re: Akathisia vs. Tardive dyskinesia, posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 15:14:42
It seems akathisia is short for tardive akathisia. This is from the University of Kansas Med Center website. This first hit on google:
Tardive akathisia is the third type of tardive syndrome. Akathisia refers to a feeling of restlessness often accompanied by anxiety. In milder cases, the individual may complain of a sensation of inner restlessness and be unable to sit quietly without fidgeting . In more severe cases, the individual may actually be unable to remain seated and must pace or march around the room. Their sense of anxiety increases if they are unable to move about.
tardive dyskenisia is a term reserved for movements mostly of the face.
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