Posted by Ritch on June 20, 2003, at 10:11:21
In reply to Re: treatments for akathisia, posted by cybercafe on June 20, 2003, at 1:45:10
> > > > > anyone know about beta blockers, anticholinergics or other treatments for akathisia? do they work well?
> > > >
> > > > Benadryl worked the best for me for various EPS symptoms.
> > >
> > > cool, it works for akathisia? .. what are the side effects?
> > >
> >
> > Drowsiness, dry mouth are the only side effects I get from Benadryl. The first time I took Benadryl was when I had a severe EPS episode from one dose of Stelazine and went to the ER, they gave me intravenous Benadryl 100mg. My dystonia stopped instantly. I was given a script for 50mg Benadryl 4x daily to be taken for four days. Hey, I got to stay home from school!
>
> damn i don't want to be drowsy all the time :(
>
> does benadryl work well for akathisia or just dystonia?
>
>It worked miraculously for the dystonia-it was a neck torticollis thingie and I went from a contortionist into a normal person instantly. Restlessness wasn't expressed physically with the Stelazine episode-it was an intense anxiety-feeling of doom-an inner restlessness. Haldol is the one that gave me the shuffles (AND dystonia). I was treated with valium for that episode (and off the Haldol), the valium worked for the shuffles, but I still had dystonia if I tried to walk. Benadryl has helped akathisia before, but it works on dystonia better I think. You might try a straight anticholinergic like Artane or Cogentin instead (less drowsiness than benadryl), or try clonazepam.
poster:Ritch
thread:234989
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030619/msgs/235398.html