Posted by Llurpsie_Noodle on January 17, 2007, at 20:49:48
In reply to Re: I'm stopping all meds, posted by Deneb on January 17, 2007, at 19:58:45
Hi Deneb,
I also have tremors sometimes. I get these big jerking spasms when I fall asleep, and often I notice that my handwriting is really shaky. I have excessive eye blinking sometimes too, and occasionally I will have a spasm in my jaw when I am at rest or falling asleep and I might bite my tongue a little bit. I think these effects are from seroquel, which is an atypical antipsychotic and mood-stabilizer. (It may be in a similar class to risperdal, but I'm not sure)So, here are some things that I've learned about the tremors.
1) They are better when I am well-rested.
2) They get worse if I start a new exercise program, but after a week or so, I get used to using my new muscles and so the jerks will become less frequent
3) Shaky hands are really affected by caffeine. If I drink even one cup of coffee I have the hands of my Nana.
4) Tremors are worse when we think about them too much. If you can get out and do something active (like window-shopping) or get engrossed in something else (like watching a movie) you will not be bothered as much by the tremors.
5) a small dose of klonopin helps a LOT. I'm talking about .5mg every 2 days, or even half that much.
6) If you want to do the benedryl test, (one time my pdoc asked me to, since I had this awful lump in my throat for 2 weeks, we wanted to rule out dystonia) take 50 mg and within an hour or two you should notice dramatic reduction in your symptoms.
****
You say that you've had these tremors for a while ((((Deneb)))) I'm sorry. It's not FAIR! You're so young! you shouldn't have to deal with shaky soup spoons and such. Think very carefully about the pros of taking risperdal (did I even get CLOSE?!? to the right spelling). How was your quality of life before, and how is it now? How was your clarity of thought? Your control over your emotions? Are you able to make better decisions now, or before? Are you able to concentrate better now or before?
now think carefully about the consequences of changing your medication-- I know *I* am. :(
You may feel unstable for a few days or a few weeks. You may feel withdrawal symptoms, like others have described above. You may have to get used to a brand-new drug, and develop tolerance to side-effects. You may feel sick and have to miss class some days. You may behave differently than you usually do. You may need to schedule extra therapy sessions to help keep you "on track" and prevent you from making poor decisions, while supporting you through a difficult adjustment period.
Having said that, you OWN your body. You are strong enough, and smart enough to be able to make decisions about your own body. You should also be smart enough to consult with an expert (your pdoc) about changing your internal chemistry. Ask her what your options are. Don't be afraid, it's YOUR body. You should also be frank with your T (yeah, I know, pdoc and T are one and the same), because making a med change due to severe side-effects is a big decision. It's a challenge, and you deserve support.
((((((hugs for you))))))))
{{{{{{{shaky hugs for you too}}}}}}}this evening I'm a mixture of smooth hugs and shaky hugs, 'cause I drank too much caffeine earlier. oh well. At least I'm not a surgeon, right? ;o)
-Ll
poster:Llurpsie_Noodle
thread:723285
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070113/msgs/723431.html