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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 platinumbride on March 4, 2006, at 12:50:04
I have basically had good results with abilify, 5 mgs. The problem is the akathisia.
Cogentin is making me so dry that I can't clear my throat, let alone sing.
I've also tried benzos, inderall and neurontin for this, but no dice.
HELP!!!!
This is very uncomfortable. My doc would like to see if it goes away after a week. My gut says taht this is an antihistimine and it will dry me out even a month from now!
Thanks, Diane
Posted by ed_uk on March 4, 2006, at 14:22:17
In reply to akathisia: anything besides cogentin or benadryl, posted by platinumbride on March 4, 2006, at 12:50:04
Have you tried decreasing the dose of Cogentin?
Ed
Posted by SLS on March 4, 2006, at 14:41:58
In reply to akathisia: anything besides cogentin or benadryl, posted by platinumbride on March 4, 2006, at 12:50:04
Hi.
What are you experiencing? Are you able to sit still for any length of time? When you stand in one place, do you constantly shift your weight from one foot to the other?
For me, the akathisia-like restlessness produced by Abilify 20mg dissipated by the end of week 2. I hope you are as lucky as I was.
- Scott
Posted by yxibow on March 4, 2006, at 18:08:33
In reply to akathisia: anything besides cogentin or benadryl, posted by platinumbride on March 4, 2006, at 12:50:04
> I have basically had good results with abilify, 5 mgs. The problem is the akathisia.
>
> Cogentin is making me so dry that I can't clear my throat, let alone sing.
>
> I've also tried benzos, inderall and neurontin for this, but no dice.
>
> HELP!!!!
>
> This is very uncomfortable. My doc would like to see if it goes away after a week. My gut says taht this is an antihistimine and it will dry me out even a month from now!
>
> Thanks, DianeUnfortunately anticholinergics posess properties of an antihistamine -- some dry more than others.
There is also Akineton (biperiden) and Artane (trihexiphenidyl) besides Cogentin. Cogentin tends to be a shotgun more than the prior. You might try the other two. They will still dry out your mouth somewhat.
Another alternative is a non-cardioselective beta blocker. This won't dry your mouth out particularly, it will lower your pulse a bit at the beginning, and large amounts can cause depression. Propranolol is a favourite of prescribers, but there is also nadolol and pindolol and several others that are non-cardioselective (early generation beta blockers that dont target the heart only, but your peripherals.)
Posted by med_empowered on March 5, 2006, at 3:30:08
In reply to Re: akathisia: anything besides cogentin or benadr » platinumbride, posted by yxibow on March 4, 2006, at 18:08:33
sometimes you cant do either/or for bad akathisia; it has to be a combo. Ex: with abilify, I did OK on propranolol+klonopin. Some people might also need an anticholinergic, but usually those are best for EPS (like parkinsonism and such), not akathisia, akinesia, or dysphoria caused by neuroleptics. Usually reducing the neuroleptic dose helps; with abilify, akathisia seems really common at most dose levels, so you might benefit just by waiting it out, or by reducing and then gradually increasing.
Akathisia sucks and, for me at least, it doesn't necessarily go away completely (sometimes it fades into a sort of low-level dysphoria). If you don't **Need** a neuroleptic, it might be best to discontinue all antipsychotics and pursue other treatments.
Posted by San Diegan on March 5, 2006, at 21:08:29
In reply to Re: akathisia: anything besides cogentin or benadr, posted by med_empowered on March 5, 2006, at 3:30:08
For me, akathesia doesn't quite do justice to the feeling I get from antipsychotics. It's hard to make people understand that it's the WORST feeling in the world. I have actually considered suicide when I get this feeling. It's not only restlessness, but extreme anxiety and fear, along with sedation and restlessness. Recently I tried a benzo to counteract the akathisia from Moban, and it worked wonderfully! I took Temazepam 15mg and for the rest of the day I was more functional than I have been in years.
Posted by yxibow on March 6, 2006, at 3:34:57
In reply to Re: akathisia: anything besides cogentin or benadr, posted by San Diegan on March 5, 2006, at 21:08:29
> For me, akathesia doesn't quite do justice to the feeling I get from antipsychotics. It's hard to make people understand that it's the WORST feeling in the world. I have actually considered suicide when I get this feeling. It's not only restlessness, but extreme anxiety and fear, along with sedation and restlessness. Recently I tried a benzo to counteract the akathisia from Moban, and it worked wonderfully! I took Temazepam 15mg and for the rest of the day I was more functional than I have been in years.
You're quite right -- Akathisia is an undescribable feeling to those who have never felt it. It is not full blown restless anxiety but it mimics it at the same time. IV Compazine gave me the worst one ever. Geodon I believe I was writhing and grabbing the carpet, I cant recall -- or maybe it was Abilify. No, I think Geodon was worse. Its first only above to severe pseudoparkinsonism, or maybe ties, as hideous EPS.
This is the end of the thread.
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