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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by msanjelpie on October 26, 2007, at 3:39:20
Started on Zyprexa a month ago. Felt wonderful the first two weeks. Although I had severe swelling and water pills helped and I figured it was temporary.
Then I got the flu like symptoms, body aches, could hardly move or walk for a couple of days. That passed too. I'm willing to take these things in stride.
But then started the paresthesia in my right hand. First three fingers went numb and have been numb now for 2-3 weeks. At first I thought I had pinched a nerve, but when the left fingers started to go too, I knew it was the Zyprexa.
I talked to a pharmacist, and asked him about it. The brochure says 'tell doctor'. I asked him why it says that. He said it usually means that the doctor will take you off the medication.
Terrific. Not what I wanted to hear. I am so thrilled with the Zyprexa. Creativity back. Libido back. Motivation back. Don't want to lose all that. But I need my fingers!
I asked the pharmacist if he thought the paresthesia (numb fingers) would go away, and if so when. He said that if it hadn't gone away in 2 weeks, it probably wasn't going to.
Sure enough, here I am now, 3 weeks later, 4 days off of Zyprexa, and fingers still tingling and nerve endings not feeling anything.
So, my question, what about the Zyprexa, or atypicals in general causes the Edema and the sleeping hands. Does it have to do with the Dopamine or something else?
Has anyone had these symptoms, and stayed on the AS medication and had the symptoms go away? If so, how long did it take?
Seroquel puffed me up big as a balloon, put my hand completely asleep, (not just a couple of fingertips) and I didn't even have the 'good' feelings from it.
Now I'm looking at Abilify, but I need to know what it is about 'me' that is causing my body to react this way. What specific drug mechanism do I need to avoid...
Even if these symptoms were to go away, isn't the drug sending a strong message that something is going on behing the scenes other than being happy that might cause long term neurologic damage?
So many questions... Pdoc is no help. Always claims that 'that's a new one...' like he's never ever had any other patients have what I have...
Jeannie
Posted by Zyprexa on October 26, 2007, at 14:33:25
In reply to Fingers and hands asleep with Zyprexa, posted by msanjelpie on October 26, 2007, at 3:39:20
Have you checked your blood sugar? Zyprexa is known to raise blood sugar. One of the side-effects of diabetes(high blood sugar) is damage to nerve endings, and lose of sensation. You could take a medication to lower the blood sugar, I take Metformin, works best for me. I never had blood sugars high enough to make my hands numb, but it is definitly higher when I take a higher dose of zyprexa. The problem with nerve damage is it may not go away. So you definitly want that in check.
Posted by msanjelpie on October 27, 2007, at 1:56:55
In reply to Re: Fingers and hands asleep with Zyprexa » msanjelpie, posted by Zyprexa on October 26, 2007, at 14:33:25
good thought... actually I have hypoglycemia, so the hyperglycemic affects of Zyprexa sort of made me feel normal in that regard after the first day with the exception of the carb cravings...
My fingers are slowly regaining feeling. I still drop things, and handling pills is hilarious, but It makes me appreciate them all the more.
I've lowered the Lexapro, cut out the useless Temazepam, Klonopin still the same, Ativan still the same, Lamictal still the same, and now I'm just in wait mode...
Once I know which agonist, antagonist etc... aspect of Zyprexa brought back my libido, I'm going to track that down...
Jeannie
Posted by Zyprexa on October 27, 2007, at 12:07:33
In reply to Re: Fingers and hands asleep with Zyprexa, posted by msanjelpie on October 27, 2007, at 1:56:55
Do you check blood sugar? Did you check it when on zyprexa? Was is within normal ranges?
Posted by Quilter on October 29, 2007, at 0:57:52
In reply to Re: Fingers and hands asleep with Zyprexa » msanjelpie, posted by Zyprexa on October 27, 2007, at 12:07:33
If you are retaining water, it might be carpal tunnel syndrome. I had a flare up when mirtazapine caused me to retain fluid. It causes numbness similar to what you described. Most cases will resolve by wearing a brace at night. Ask your Dr. if that might be your problem.
Quilter
Posted by twinleaf on October 30, 2007, at 0:29:06
In reply to Re: Fingers and hands asleep with Zyprexa, posted by Quilter on October 29, 2007, at 0:57:52
I second what Quilter suggested. It's most likely carpal tunnel syndrome because of slight wrist swelling. The carpal tunnel is a tight circular tendon-like sheath: it doesn't expand at all, so if there is swelling there, it causes pressure on the median nerve (thumb and first two fingers) and sometimes on the ulnar nerve, (last two fingers) too. It wouldn't be diabetic neuropathy- first, your blood sugar is OK, and second, that comes years after the onset of diabetes. Since the Zyprexa has helped so much, maybe you can work with your pdoc to get the right dosage of it- and also of the diuretic. Good luck!
Posted by msanjelpie on October 30, 2007, at 4:18:39
In reply to Re: Fingers and hands asleep with Zyprexa, posted by twinleaf on October 30, 2007, at 0:29:06
It's not carpal tunnel - Now that I'm off the Zyprexa, the swelling is completely gone. There was never wrist swelling in either case.
I'm starting to worry that I have permanent neurologic damage in these fingers. I am forcing myself to use them as much as possible, although the ends feel completely dead, and there is pain when I press on them.
The thing that pisses me off the most is that I'm a piano player. If it had to be something, why couldn't it have been a different body part... ?
Again, does anyone know why Zyprexa causes this side effect, and does anyone know if Abilify would be likely to do so as well?
Pdoc isn't going to put me on any other AS meds until the fingers are back to normal...
Jeannie
Posted by msanjelpie on January 29, 2008, at 21:07:46
In reply to Re: Fingers and hands asleep with Zyprexa, posted by msanjelpie on October 30, 2007, at 4:18:39
Well the damage is now down to my right hand first three fingertips. Pharmacist put me on MethylCobalamin sublingual B-12 and CoQ10 for nerve regrowth. I can feel my fingertips now, but if I put my hand in a bag and try to find something in the bag, (like a jellybean) my fingers can't tell which one is the right shape...
IF only I had quit the zyprexa when this first started and not waited a couple of weeks, I wouldn't have this possibly permanent nerve damage... ARGH!
This is the end of the thread.
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