Posted by Ritch on June 21, 2003, at 18:16:49
In reply to Re: treatments for akathisia, posted by cybercafe on June 21, 2003, at 4:54:44
The reason why Benadryl works is because of its anitcholinergic activity not because of its antihistaminic properties. Benadryl is often used for diarrhea, intestinal allergies, etc. I use it (12.5mg) with a little clonazepam for situations that tend to provoke panic, and it works better than either one alone. It would be better to say that Benadryl is an anticholinergic drug that is also a potent antihistamine.
> weird, it seems benadryl is an anti-histamine, i wonder why that would help ....
> so now it seems the four meds to try are
> 1) beta blockers
> 2) anticholinergics
> 3) benzos
> 4) anti histamines
>
> > 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/235918.html