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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on January 20, 2006, at 20:13:09
I have noticed that since coming off AD's my handwriting has become increasingly illegable.
My hand is a lot more stiff.Cofee helps but I don't want to use it expressly for that purpose.
Has anyone had a similar problem, and is there anything that anyone found helped ?Linkadge
Posted by Deneb on January 20, 2006, at 20:32:34
In reply to medications and handwriting, posted by linkadge on January 20, 2006, at 20:13:09
> I have noticed that since coming off AD's my handwriting has become increasingly illegable.
> My hand is a lot more stiff.I've noticed that my handwriting has become increasingly illegible in the past few weeks too. My hand sometimes jerks. I haven't come off any ADs, but meds were added recently.
Deneb
Posted by JayDee on January 20, 2006, at 20:34:33
In reply to medications and handwriting, posted by linkadge on January 20, 2006, at 20:13:09
My hand is always very stuff. I have to squeeze the heck out of the pencil when writing for some reason.
The quality of my handwriting is directly related to my alertness level/interest level/mood at the time.
Caffiene helps, amphetamine make my handwriting excellent.
when i'm feeling 'ocdish' ie in a mood where I love taking notes in a certain manner, like organizing my notes, labeling graphs in very small writing... my handwriting is very good.
My fine motor skills are poor. when trying to control my arm, to move the pencil across say 1/4 a sheet of paper, I cannot control my movements smoothly. My hand will make unpredictable 'jerks' and I cannot accuratly start or stop a line, for example.
the above symptoms can vary from as described (very bad) to almost non-existant.
really, its a dopamine thing.
Posted by Phillipa on January 20, 2006, at 21:33:01
In reply to Re: medications and handwriting, posted by JayDee on January 20, 2006, at 20:34:33
I was told it's a perfectionist thing. Just had some psych testing done. And when asked to draw some circles in various shapes I bore down too much. I think it was anxiety though. Sorry Link I just don't really know. Fonly, Phillipa
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on January 20, 2006, at 22:03:38
In reply to medications and handwriting, posted by linkadge on January 20, 2006, at 20:13:09
Handwriting? What's that? I only type! ;)
But seriously, I agree w/ the above poster who suggested the role of dopamine. I know that in Parkinson's Disease (levels of dopamine too low) handwriting is typically affected early-ish in the illness. So, it seems reasonable to me that dopaminergic meds (or coming off of them) could have something to do w/ it.
Best,
EE
Posted by Deneb on January 20, 2006, at 22:16:36
In reply to Re: medications and handwriting » linkadge, posted by Emily Elizabeth on January 20, 2006, at 22:03:38
> But seriously, I agree w/ the above poster who suggested the role of dopamine. I know that in Parkinson's Disease (levels of dopamine too low) handwriting is typically affected early-ish in the illness. So, it seems reasonable to me that dopaminergic meds (or coming off of them) could have something to do w/ it.
>
> Best,
> EEOMG, do you think Risperdal has anything to do with my bad handwriting? I'm not taking much, but can it? Or is this all in my head?
Posted by linkadge on January 21, 2006, at 9:33:50
In reply to Re: medications and handwriting, posted by Phillipa on January 20, 2006, at 21:33:01
Hmm, don't think I'm being perfectionist, I kinda just want ledgable handwriting.
Linkadge
Posted by ed_uk on January 21, 2006, at 11:03:06
In reply to Re: medications and handwriting, posted by linkadge on January 21, 2006, at 9:33:50
I'm clumsy Link, and my handwriting is poor. Not sure of a solution.
Ed
Posted by linkadge on January 21, 2006, at 12:37:40
In reply to Re: medications and handwriting » linkadge, posted by ed_uk on January 21, 2006, at 11:03:06
Generally my handwriting was legable. Don't mean to put blame where it may be undue, but was wondering if anyone else had this effect appear after drugs were removed.
Linkadge
Posted by Sarah T. on January 22, 2006, at 1:30:51
In reply to Re: medications and handwriting » linkadge, posted by Emily Elizabeth on January 20, 2006, at 22:03:38
> >> But seriously, I agree w/ the above poster who suggested the role of dopamine. I know that in Parkinson's Disease (levels of dopamine too low) handwriting is typically affected early-ish in the illness. So, it seems reasonable to me that dopaminergic meds (or coming off of them) could have something to do w/ it.>>Best,> EE
Hi Emily Elizabeth,
A decline in penmanship is also characteristic of some other neurological diseases. For example, long before Ronald Reagan was diagnosed and went public with Alzheimer's Disease, analysis of his memos indicated that something was amiss. His handwriting changed and, although he did not have Parkinson's Disease, his handwriting looked like the characteristic Parkinsonian scrawl.
Posted by Sarah T. on January 22, 2006, at 1:37:24
In reply to medications and handwriting, posted by linkadge on January 20, 2006, at 20:13:09
I used to have fairly decent handwriting. Then, along came computers (first, a word processor; later, several PC's), and now, on those rare occasions when I have to hand-write a letter or other document, I feel as if I'm going through computer keyboard withdrawal. There are just some letters that must be handwritten, like sympathy letters, love letters, etc., but my handwriting has deteriorated beyond repair. Also, I feel as if I am able to think better at the keyboard than when writing long-hand. Isn't that silly? Shakespeare didn't need a keyboard. He wrote with a quill pen!
Posted by linkadge on January 22, 2006, at 11:08:17
In reply to Computers vs. handwriting, posted by Sarah T. on January 22, 2006, at 1:37:24
I need to take notes every day in school, so its not really due to lack of use.
When I get my digital camera working again, I'll see if I can upload some examples to my website.
Linkadge
Posted by Sarah T. on January 22, 2006, at 19:02:20
In reply to Re: Computers vs. handwriting, posted by linkadge on January 22, 2006, at 11:08:17
Hi Linkadge,
Are you on ANY meds now, traditional or alternative? If so, could those be affecting your handwriting? Does the problem vary at all throughout the day or is it pretty consistent? What was your handwriting like before you ever took any psychotropic medications?
S.
Posted by linkadge on January 23, 2006, at 11:52:43
In reply to Re: Computers vs. handwriting » linkadge, posted by Sarah T. on January 22, 2006, at 19:02:20
I am really only taking fish oil. I don't suppose that could affect it, but possably.
Overall my handwriting has declined since starting medications, from neet and legable, to almost illegable. Not sure whats going on. Even if I slow down, it is hard. Like my hands are frozen.
Linkadge
Posted by Camille Dumont on January 23, 2006, at 23:13:50
In reply to medications and handwriting, posted by linkadge on January 20, 2006, at 20:13:09
Zyprexa totally killed my fine motor skills. I could neither write nor type ... words were in my head but it was as if my hands refused to obey my brain.
I never noticed any effect from the ADs though.
Posted by Sarah T. on January 25, 2006, at 0:45:11
In reply to Re: Computers vs. handwriting, posted by linkadge on January 23, 2006, at 11:52:43
Hi Linkadge,
How is your handwriting shortly after you exercise? Is it any better? Perhaps your handwriting will improve with time. It hasn't been all that long since you got off meds, has it?
Congratulations for going through the very difficult withdrawals from the meds you were on. That's quite an accomplishment!
Sarah
Posted by linkadge on January 25, 2006, at 14:57:22
In reply to Re: Computers vs. handwriting » linkadge, posted by Sarah T. on January 25, 2006, at 0:45:11
After exercise it is good (better) for about 1/2 hour.
Linkadge
Posted by Cairo on January 26, 2006, at 17:32:42
In reply to Re: medications and handwriting, posted by linkadge on January 21, 2006, at 12:37:40
All I know about meds and handwriting is that when my daughter was on the psychostimulants, her handwriting improved. It's interesting that her cursive is better than her printing. Changing her meds to more dopaminergic ones (Zoloft) doesn't seem to have any efffect on her handwriting, though it sure helps her Social Anxiety more.
My son is just the opposite: no cursive at all, only printing (A brilliant kid who can type all his college papers).
Topamax (horrible, horrible med for me) caused me to be unable to form cursive letters even when just signing my name. I had to focus very hard on how I wanted the pen to move on the page and even then, my signature or words didn't look like my own handwriting. It would take ten times a long to write anything. Of course I had word retrieval problems, bone crushing fatigue and every other side effect listed.
Now my sister-in-law had a weird thing happen with Neurontin: would start writing a word with the second letter, then would unconciously go back and fill in the first letter.
Cairo
Posted by linkadge on January 26, 2006, at 20:28:51
In reply to Re: Handwriting-the good, the bad, and the weird, posted by Cairo on January 26, 2006, at 17:32:42
Yeah, Zoloft had no effect on my handwriting. Most of the AD's had an effect on it, but I adjusted. I am noticing that coming off the SSRI's that I am having a hard time with cursive or printing. Seems my hand seems to forget how to move without contious effort in thinking about each character.
Linkadge
Posted by Sarah T. on January 27, 2006, at 1:35:09
In reply to Re: Handwriting-the good, the bad, and the weird, posted by linkadge on January 26, 2006, at 20:28:51
Hi Linkadge,
That's very interesting that your handwriting improves after exercise, even if only briefly. At least it responds to something, so you know it's not irretrievably lost. I'll bet the decline in penmanship is a withdrawal phenomenon and will probably improve with time. Withdrawal can take a LONG time, as you know.
Sarah
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