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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by dandjsell on July 10, 2006, at 8:29:03
Has anyone had a similar experience. we were told for 6 months it was a nervous tic and was normal. Once we stopped the medication he had been taking for 3 yrs, the tic has almost disappeared.
Posted by SLS on July 10, 2006, at 9:34:50
In reply to Zyprexa caused tardive diskinesia in son, posted by dandjsell on July 10, 2006, at 8:29:03
> Has anyone had a similar experience. we were told for 6 months it was a nervous tic and was normal. Once we stopped the medication he had been taking for 3 yrs, the tic has almost disappeared.
Hi.
Can you describe these nervous tics?
Did they appear 6 months ago? If so, then I guess they qualify as being tardive tics, and removing Zyprexa was probably the right move.
Tardive dyskinesia does not usually appear until someone has been taking a neuroleptic antipsychotic for several years, although it can show up infrequently after three months or so. If the tics began at the same time Zyprexa was introduced, it is unlikely they were manifestations of tardive dyskinesia. They might very well have been one of the other types of EPS (extrapyramidal symptoms) that these drugs are known to produce. True TD normally doesn't resolve once the drug is discontinued. It is usually, but not always, irreversible. It is a happy situation that your son's tics have resolved, whatever the cause. Interestingly, Zyprexa is sometimes prescribed to treat tic disorders, including Tourettes.
Is there any further need for your son to take an antipsychotic? If so, Seroquel might be worth investigating. It is thought to have a lower risk of producing EPS. There is also Clozaril, which also has the lower risk of producing tardive dyskinisia, but requires biweekly blood tests to monitor for agranulocytosis, a conditon in which the body fails to produce an adequate number of white blood cells. Clozaril is the most potent of the neuroleptic antipsychotics.
- Scott
Posted by dandjsell on July 10, 2006, at 9:56:32
In reply to Re: Zyprexa caused tardive diskinesia in son, posted by SLS on July 10, 2006, at 9:34:50
> > Has anyone had a similar experience. we were told for 6 months it was a nervous tic and was normal. Once we stopped the medication he had been taking for 3 yrs, the tic has almost disappeared.
>
> Hi.
>
> Can you describe these nervous tics?
>
> Did they appear 6 months ago? If so, then I guess they qualify as being tardive tics, and removing Zyprexa was probably the right move.
>
> Tardive dyskinesia does not usually appear until someone has been taking a neuroleptic antipsychotic for several years, although it can show up infrequently after three months or so. If the tics began at the same time Zyprexa was introduced, it is unlikely they were manifestations of tardive dyskinesia. They might very well have been one of the other types of EPS (extrapyramidal symptoms) that these drugs are known to produce. True TD normally doesn't resolve once the drug is discontinued. It is usually, but not always, irreversible. It is a happy situation that your son's tics have resolved, whatever the cause. Interestingly, Zyprexa is sometimes prescribed to treat tic disorders, including Tourettes.
>
> Is there any further need for your son to take an antipsychotic? If so, Seroquel might be worth investigating. It is thought to have a lower risk of producing EPS. There is also Clozaril, which also has the lower risk of producing tardive dyskinisia, but requires biweekly blood tests to monitor for agranulocytosis, a conditon in which the body fails to produce an adequate number of white blood cells. Clozaril is the most potent of the neuroleptic antipsychotics.
>
>
> - Scott
>My son has taken Zyprexa for 3 years. he is 13 now. 6 months ago he started to involuntarily move his head to the right40 degrees and back up twice every 10 seconds or so. It was appalling and scary. we took him to every childrens hospitol in the area. Nevertheless, it was dismissed as normal and we were told it would go away. He also was violent, aggitated, hyperactive, and out of control. The doctors said that these were all symptoms of his Aspergurs disorder.
We went to Myrtle Beach with our children a month ago, and kept forgetting to give him his medication. (10mg of Zyprexa 2x a day). His attitude changed, and the incedance of these "nervous tics" were lessened. I asked the doctor if I could remove Zyprexa and surprisingly he only has 3 episodes of the involuntary head movements a day. to boot, his attitude and demeanor are the best they have been in years!!!!! He doesn't try to kill his brothers, or threaten suicide, he can sit still longer, and go places without freaking everyone in sight out. Our relationship with him has dramatically improved in a few weeks. I am so disappointed in the years we missed with our boy.
Posted by Phillipa on July 10, 2006, at 16:24:03
In reply to Re: Zyprexa caused tardive diskinesia in son, posted by SLS on July 10, 2006, at 9:34:50
Scott I didn't know that among a lot of other things. How does abilfy compare? And seroqel for depression? Love Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on July 10, 2006, at 21:16:21
In reply to Re: Zyprexa caused tardive diskinesia in son » SLS, posted by Phillipa on July 10, 2006, at 16:24:03
Yeah, it could have definately been related to the zyprexa.
AP's can cause movement problems right away. Movement problems aren't necessarily TD. TD is usually the result of actual dammage to the brain caused by the drug.
So, I would say it was the zyprexa. If the drug had been continued it may have advanced into TD.
Linkadge
Posted by dandjsell on July 10, 2006, at 21:19:46
In reply to Re: Zyprexa caused tardive diskinesia in son » SLS, posted by Phillipa on July 10, 2006, at 16:24:03
Talked to his psychiatrist today and she said that this is to be expected and acted as if it were no big deal, I am horrified. When she first prescribed Zyprexa she said that there were virtually no side effects and I trusted her. Now she has him on Risperdol which I believe lists the same side effects. I am scared for my son. I quit giving it to him today. He is diagnosed as Aspergers with bipolar. I think the Bipolar diagnosis is confused with normal symptoms of Aspbergers children.
Posted by med_empowered on July 11, 2006, at 2:05:23
In reply to Re: Zyprexa caused tardive diskinesia in son, posted by dandjsell on July 10, 2006, at 21:19:46
I'm horrified by your shrink. She really should have warned you about the possibility of TD and other problems with zyprexa. Zyprexa and the newer antipsychotics cause **fewer** problems than the old drugs, but they are not problem-free.
I also cant understand why she'd RX risperdal. Of all the atypicals, risperdal is probably the most harsh and the most likely to cause EPS. Some trials even failed to show a clear benefit over Haldol, the "rough stuff" used back in the 60s.
Do you think your son needs an antipsychotic? Even if he does have bipolar (or bipolar meds help whatever it is he's dealing with), there are other options, like anticonvulsants (depakote, lamictal, trileptal, tegretol, keppra, etc.) and Lithium.
Sorry about your experience.
Posted by dandjsell on July 11, 2006, at 7:32:00
In reply to could you get another psychiatrist?, posted by med_empowered on July 11, 2006, at 2:05:23
I feel that the symptoms that we were originally trying to treat back when he was seven years old (inability to pay attention, lack of social skills, disregard for rules, hyperactivity, depression, and bouts of mania) were nothing compared to what he became on Zyprexa over time. I think i will give him a break from the meds for the summer and see how it goes< HE is doing well so far>
Posted by dandjsell on July 11, 2006, at 7:41:51
In reply to could you get another psychiatrist?, posted by med_empowered on July 11, 2006, at 2:05:23
She told me that she prescribed Risperdol because she has seen nothing but success with it, and that it is also used to treat tics. I feel that Mike needs a break from these meds to see exactly what it is we are treating anymore. His behavior is so much more improved off of the Zyprexa, I can't believe it. I do have to tell him to do things several times, but he is not yelling at us, asking us incessantly for things we can not afford, he isn't beating up his brothers or trying to kill them over video games, he is more respectful, and kinder. I feel that we were using meds to treat meds in the past.
Posted by linkadge on July 11, 2006, at 16:35:54
In reply to Re: could you get another psychiatrist?, posted by dandjsell on July 11, 2006, at 7:41:51
Risperidal is the same nonsense as zyprexa. Same potential risks.
I'd find a new psychiatrist, Atypical antipsychotics should *not* be a first line treatement for bipolar disorder.
Sure, she's seen nothing but sucess, the medication hasn't been out long enough for the real problems to emerge.
I agree with Med Empowered, lithium or a different mood stabilizer would have been a better choice.
Have you tried omega-3 fatty acids? They can help a number of psychiatric disorders inc. bipolar.
Linkadge
Posted by dandjsell on July 11, 2006, at 21:27:51
In reply to Re: could you get another psychiatrist?, posted by linkadge on July 11, 2006, at 16:35:54
I will try the Omega 3, where do I get it? Anything is better than this crap right now.
Posted by med_empowered on July 12, 2006, at 1:39:06
In reply to Re: could you get another psychiatrist?, posted by dandjsell on July 11, 2006, at 21:27:51
It sounds to me like your shrink may have just said "bipolar" to deal with (and justify meds for) behavior she found unacceptable. If your son's doing better off meds, a med-free trial may be worth while.
I was just thinking...depending on the issues, as-needed meds may be the way to go. Keeping sleep under control and controlling high level agitation (you can both of these things with occasional use of benzos, which are old, cheap, and safe) could help. Supplements could also help.
Omega 3 is available at wal mart and all over, really.
Posted by linkadge on July 12, 2006, at 15:41:23
In reply to other options..., posted by med_empowered on July 12, 2006, at 1:39:06
You can get good omega-3 products in a lot of places now.
If you want more information, you could go to any seach engine and type in omega-3 + depression, omega-3 + ADD, etc.
Linkadge
This is the end of the thread.
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