Shown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sac on March 9, 2014, at 14:16:00
Anyone know of a med that's useful for treating ssri induced akastisia?
Posted by Christ_empowered on March 9, 2014, at 17:25:52
In reply to Treating akastisia, posted by Sac on March 9, 2014, at 14:16:00
benzos (I think klonopin and Ativan are popular), propranolol, sometimes Neurontin (gabapentin).
Posted by phidippus on March 9, 2014, at 20:50:13
In reply to Treating akastisia, posted by Sac on March 9, 2014, at 14:16:00
Your best bet are beta blockers, like propanalol.
Eric
Posted by Phillipa on March 9, 2014, at 21:58:05
In reply to Re: Treating akastisia » Sac, posted by phidippus on March 9, 2014, at 20:50:13
Shouldn't one stop the med if akathesia?
Posted by SLS on March 9, 2014, at 23:19:37
In reply to Treating akastisia, posted by Sac on March 9, 2014, at 14:16:00
> Anyone know of a med that's useful for treating ssri induced akastisia?
How can you tell the difference between akathisia and severe anxiety?
- Scott
Posted by SLS on March 9, 2014, at 23:28:07
In reply to Re: Treating akastisia » phidippus, posted by Phillipa on March 9, 2014, at 21:58:05
> Shouldn't one stop the med if akathesia?
That would be an easy fix. I would certainly discontinue the first SRI I were to try were I to experience akathisia as a side effect. I guess it becomes less and less easy to discontinue an otherwise effective drug as alternatives disappear. It then becomes reasonable to continue a drug treat the akathisia.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on March 9, 2014, at 23:31:53
In reply to Treating akastisia, posted by Sac on March 9, 2014, at 14:16:00
Do you get akathisia from Effexor?
How well do you respond to an antidepressant before akathisia appears? Which antidepressant produced the greatest improvement?
- Scott
Posted by SLS on March 9, 2014, at 23:46:06
In reply to Re: Treating akastisia » Sac, posted by phidippus on March 9, 2014, at 20:50:13
> Your best bet are beta blockers, like propanalol.
>
> EricWhat about mirtazapine or cyproheptadine? 5-HT2 antagonism?
- Scott
Posted by SLS on March 9, 2014, at 23:53:55
In reply to Treating akastisia, posted by Sac on March 9, 2014, at 14:16:00
> Anyone know of a med that's useful for treating ssri induced akastisia?
What is your diagnosis and symptoms?
Perhaps you can make a list of drugs and dosages that you tried?
- How did you respond to each drug? Did it make you feel better, worse, or no change?
- What side effects did each drug produce?
There are alternatives to serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
- Scott
Posted by PeterMartin on March 10, 2014, at 2:24:43
In reply to Treating akastisia, posted by Sac on March 9, 2014, at 14:16:00
> Anyone know of a med that's useful for treating ssri induced akastisia?
I agree with earlier posters.
That said Cogentin was a savior for me a few times when I got major akathisia from meds. I ended up in a hospital a number of times in the 00s due to mania. This one hospital shot me up with geodon to which I had the worst akathesia reaction imaginable. It was like restless like x100 all over my body. I couldn't pass time. Meanwhile the staff knew I was manic/psychotic so they weren't really paying attention to my begging for help. Luckily a lady doctor walked by my bed and I was able to convince her I was in major discomfort. She gave me a shot of cogentin and 15min l was totally relieved and fell asleep. Actually ended up at that same hospital again a while later and they injected me w geodon again.....cogentin cured it that time too....
I ended up getting a script for it from my doc but not sure how common it to use regularly for side effects. If you're having issues adjusting dosages which is resulting in akathsia than perhaps its something your doc would let you try.
Seriously saved my life a couple times.....was the worst feeling in the world....have had it mild too but I was so thankful something saved me that first time....
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzatropine
Posted by SLS on March 10, 2014, at 6:43:09
In reply to Re: Treating akastisia, posted by PeterMartin on March 10, 2014, at 2:24:43
> > Anyone know of a med that's useful for treating ssri induced akastisia?
>
> I agree with earlier posters.
>
> That said Cogentin was a savior for me a few times when I got major akathisia from meds. I ended up in a hospital a number of times in the 00s due to mania. This one hospital shot me up with geodon to which I had the worst akathesia reaction imaginable. It was like restless like x100 all over my body. I couldn't pass time. Meanwhile the staff knew I was manic/psychotic so they weren't really paying attention to my begging for help. Luckily a lady doctor walked by my bed and I was able to convince her I was in major discomfort. She gave me a shot of cogentin and 15min l was totally relieved and fell asleep. Actually ended up at that same hospital again a while later and they injected me w geodon again.....cogentin cured it that time too....
>
> I ended up getting a script for it from my doc but not sure how common it to use regularly for side effects. If you're having issues adjusting dosages which is resulting in akathsia than perhaps its something your doc would let you try.
>
> Seriously saved my life a couple times.....was the worst feeling in the world....have had it mild too but I was so thankful something saved me that first time....
>
> Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzatropine
That's great. I didn't think Cogentin was very effective for akathisia. I hope that more people respond to it as well as you do.
- Scott
Posted by phidippus on March 10, 2014, at 8:51:00
In reply to Re: Treating akastisia » phidippus, posted by SLS on March 9, 2014, at 23:46:06
The buzz is akathisia is a noradranergic malfunction, so seratonin blockers don't makemuch sense to me.
Eric
Posted by SLS on March 10, 2014, at 9:08:42
In reply to Re: Treating akastisia » SLS, posted by phidippus on March 10, 2014, at 8:51:00
> The buzz is akathisia is a noradranergic malfunction, so seratonin blockers don't makemuch sense to me.
>
> EricNot unless the serotonin receptors are actually heteroreceptors located on NE neurons. I don't know how this would work, though. It would depend upon whether akathisia is associated with NE hyper- or hypo- activity. It would also depend upon whether 5-HT heteroreceptors are excitatory or inhibitory. I haven't given this any thought. It is worth looking into, though. Perhaps the heteroreceptors suppress DA neurons or activate Ach neurons instead.
Things in the brain are ENORMOUSLY complex. Akathisia should make a good research project.
- Scott
Posted by phidippus on March 10, 2014, at 10:05:51
In reply to Re: Treating akastisia » phidippus, posted by SLS on March 10, 2014, at 9:08:42
Although there are many possible hypotheses for the pathophysiology of acute akathisia, none is completely satisfactory. So far the most attractive hypothesis is dopamine receptor blockade in the mesocortical and mesolimbic regions of the brain. It is unlikely that a single neurotransmitter hypothesis will explain all the complex features of the disorder, and the interaction of several neurotransmitters may be involved.
Eric
Posted by Sac on March 15, 2014, at 17:22:58
In reply to Re: Treating akastisia » Sac, posted by SLS on March 9, 2014, at 23:31:53
> Do you get akathisia from Effexor?
>
> How well do you respond to an antidepressant before akathisia appears? Which antidepressant produced the greatest improvement?
>
>
> - ScottNever tried Effexor, but new to fetzima. Only one week in with fetzima after 20+ years on prozac. I've always had a problem with akasthisia from ssri's, maybe it is anxiety. I'm not sure if fetzima will be the one for me, I feel jumpy and angry after only a week on 40 Mgs. Actually I open the capsule and dump some out because 40 Mgs makes me edgy.
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