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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SheilaC on November 2, 2008, at 16:11:55
My husband saw a neurologist for a tremor he has from a bad car wreck years ago. The neuro gave him Primidone for his shake. It seems to be helping.
Problem is: he was taking risperdal for a few years for some irritability/rage issues. The neuro told him to stop taking risperdal because it was contributing to the shake. He was taking .5 to 1 mg a night. Not a big dose I think.
But - if risperdal does contribute to his tremor, he needs to be able to replace his risperdal with something else to help his mood/irritability/anger.
What should he try? Would a benzo help? Xanax, klonopin, etc? What about Topamax or neurontin?
We want to stay with the primidone because it is helping the shake, but we need something else for the irritability. The neuro said he would need to see a psych doc (we will make an appt).
Is it possible to stay on .5 to 1mg of risperdal or will it cause permanent shake?
Any thoughts?
Posted by bleauberry on November 2, 2008, at 18:53:35
In reply to Primidone and what else?, posted by SheilaC on November 2, 2008, at 16:11:55
A friend of mine has the exact same scenario...car wreck long time ago, bad tremors and shakes. Primidone helps him. He still has tremors, but not as dramatic as they were. The other med he takes with it for calmness and also to help with tremors is lorazepam. So a benzo is worth a shot I think.
But, withdrawing from risperdal could cause problems. The withdrawals themselves will produce new symptoms, both physically and mentally. They could last from a couple weeks to up to 3 months. Based on my own experience. Another med in the same class as risperdal that might help is seroquel at a low dose, with a lower risk of tremors. But also keep in mind that risperdal is a unique medicine not duplicated by anything else, and that if it turns out to be the only one that helps him, then that in itself is a good thing and the tremors are just an unfortunate fact of life that might have to be accepted. But surely other things can be tried first to see.
Posted by Phillipa on November 2, 2008, at 20:23:49
In reply to Re: Primidone and what else?, posted by bleauberry on November 2, 2008, at 18:53:35
Why is resperidol unique? Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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