Posted by Cam W. on December 29, 2001, at 0:11:19
In reply to Re: What is EPS? » Cam W., posted by Willow on December 28, 2001, at 22:15:13
Willow - There are several reasons that your father hasn't been given these drugs. First and foremost, I believe that your dad has tardive dyskinesia (TD), and these meds do little in the way of stopping those movements. The anticholinergics I mentioned are usually used for the extrapyramidal movements and muscle pains associated with EPS.
Secondly, these drugs cause a fair bit of cognitive impairment in the elderly population, especially those prone to Alzheimers, which anticholinergics with significantly worsen. They actually use anticholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimers patients, which increase acetylcholine concentrations in the body. Blocking acetylcholine receptors would significantly enhance Alzheimers symptoms.
Also, anticholinergics can cause hallucinations in people who are more sensitive to their effects, and they cause lovely side effects like extreme dry mouth, sedation, urinary flow problems, and coordination problems (leading to falls). These side effects are most pronounced in the elderly.
Muscle twitches probably aren't EPS, although some people have reportedly got EPS symptoms from SSRIs and Effexor. It isn't that common. I believe that muscle aches and pains are an early sign. Your doc can do a simple test to determine if you do have EPS (I doubt it, though).
- Cam
> The effexor gives me muscle twitches and sudden jerks. I've been reassured by the doctors that this isn't related to the TD in anyway. Are they correct? Is it safe to say that they aren't related to EPS either?
poster:Cam W.
thread:87920
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011222/msgs/88111.html