Posted by Mitch on September 3, 2001, at 23:35:20
In reply to Re: Help - Could this be akathasia? » Mitch, posted by Vince on September 3, 2001, at 19:16:10
> Thanks for your help. I'm only on 80mg of Geodon, and the inner tension is killing me? The one thing that seems to help the most is neurontin. Benzo's help but leave me extremely depressed when they wear off. How do you know about the benadryl? Are you sure that it's safe.
It's just an over-the-counter antihistamine that has been around forever. The anti-cholinergic effects are what reverses the EPS (restlessness, akathisia).
>
> Do you think it is better just to stop taking the medication that is causing the akathasia? Or should I taper down. It seems to me that the affects of akathasia have to be worse than most withdrawals but I don't know, I was told that Geodon is a very powerful anxiolic, if so you would think that it would have strong anxiety withdrawals like benzo's. That's why I'm so confused about what is going on and what I should do. VinceThis is what I would do:
1) Take 25mg of Benadryl now, and then start tomorrow taking 25mg of Benadryl every 4-6 hours or so. The Benadryl will also have some sedative effect that should offset most of the anxiety surrounding the restlessness as well.
2) Right now leave a message to your pdoc on their machine or whatever telling them what you are doing and why, ask for an appointment ASAP to discuss these issues, or at least request they call you tomorrow early as they can to advise you on what to do.
3)If you were being treated with Geodon for psychotic symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, etc.) continue to take the Geodon as prescribed along with your other meds.
Otherwise, if you want to attempt to reduce the dose, skip a dose, or just stop the Geodon that is up to you.
Hope this gets straightened out soon, it is pretty scary when this crap happens but it usually resolves fairly quickly. If you really feel that it is an emergency go to an ER and tell them what the hell is going on, they will know what to do. When I had the EPS from the Stelazine (the first time it happened to me), I was at home eating dinner and everything was fine. I was eating dinner with my parents, was feeling unusually panicky for some reason, and I started having muscle spasms really bad. My mom freaked thought I was having a seizure. They took me down to the ER, gave me an intravenous shot of Benadryl and it resolved rapidly. They sent me home with a Benadryl script, and I stayed out of school for two days.
You'll be ok!
poster:Mitch
thread:77187
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010902/msgs/77634.html