Posted by Mr.Scott on December 1, 2004, at 20:20:50
In reply to Re: Anyone wanna take a stab at my woes today? » Mr.Scott, posted by Ritch on December 1, 2004, at 10:16:49
Mitch-
I can tell that these symptoms are dopaminergic. That is I believe from reading others research that the ssris put a squeeze on dopamine in the nigra striatal region of the brain and doing so causes these symptoms. By putting a squeeze on dopamine one might encouter systoms directly related to dopamine reduction such as lack of motivation, poor concentration, fatigue, flat affect. Also since dopamine inhibits acetycholine, the effect of reducing dopamine throws the acetylcholine system into overdrive and thats what I believe causes the restlessness, agitation, muscle twitching spasm, and tension. I have 50+ pages citing many articles/studies/etc. that indicate some folks will have EPS (akathisia/dystonia/myoclonus/muscle tension/rigidity/etc.) My doc has not believed me for years and pretty much had me convinced I was bipolar. I'm seeing a doc who is both a neurologist/psychiatrist in January and I'm hoping he will be able to shed some light on why this happens and how if at all possible I can get around it.
The poster above is correct about using an anticholinergic to help and indeed benztropine or even benadryl is helpul in alleviating it. Problem is that the anticholinergics have there own host of side effects, and I want to be reasonably sure that I won't develop Tardive Dyskinesia by simply covering up the problem with an anticholinergic drug.
Was that you who said you'd used nortriptyline with good results?
Scott
poster:Mr.Scott
thread:422420
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041201/msgs/423113.html