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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 Amelia_in_StPaul on May 17, 2009, at 20:07:43
Oh this is great. I was off fluoxetine (Prozac) to do a sleep study (3 weeks) and then got back on it (even though I don't think it's the right medicine for me) because I was crashing, badly--suicidal, anxious, the whole bit. I see a new pdoc next week who can hopefully find a good med combination for me, but in the meantime--hand tremors? Are you kidding me?
Please tell me--is this dyskenesia? My left hand will be at rest (or trying to move, either one) and all the sudden my index finger will leap, kind of seize up and move over, and vibrate or finely shake. Sometimes it affects my thumb too. It's been doing this over the last few days, since I've gone up to 20 mg fluoxetine. Tonight, it is particularly bad. H to the e to the double l N-O.
If this is fluoxetine-induced (and it sure seems to be), what do I do about it? Arrrrrgggghhhh.
Thank you~Amelia
Posted by Phillipa on May 18, 2009, at 0:08:48
In reply to oh, so now I have hand tremor? PROZAC, you stink., posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on May 17, 2009, at 20:07:43
Hi Amelia I get this also for me it's anxiety. Bet that's what yours is also try not to worry. Love Phillipa
Posted by Justherself54 on May 18, 2009, at 6:34:13
In reply to oh, so now I have hand tremor? PROZAC, you stink., posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on May 17, 2009, at 20:07:43
I couldn't handle even small liquid doses of prozac so I can't comment on it, but Paxil gives my brother terrible hand tremors..
Did you ramp up your dose really quickly? I had severe hand tremors on lithium (whole different thing I know) but I sure hear you..they are awful!
Let us know how it goes..
Posted by seldomseen on May 18, 2009, at 7:47:54
In reply to oh, so now I have hand tremor? PROZAC, you stink., posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on May 17, 2009, at 20:07:43
I developed a very high frequency basal tremor in my hands with Prozac as well. I never had involuntary large movements or jerking though.
Tremor is a known side effect of prozac, But I don't think it is tardive dyskinesia.
It was rather embarrassing though as I do a lot with my hands, and train people to do what I do. I always had to explain about the tremor.
Now it relapses and remits (so odd).
My pdoc asked if I wanted beta bockers to reduce the tremor.
Posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on May 18, 2009, at 15:58:02
In reply to Re: oh, so now I have hand tremor? PROZAC, you stink. » Amelia_in_StPaul, posted by Phillipa on May 18, 2009, at 0:08:48
Hello Phillipa, does your digit or body part move involuntarily before it buzzes? I am wondering b/c I've had anxiety for a very long time and never anything like this. It has been happening since I started back up on the 20 mg dose. Well, whatever it is, I won't worry. It's probably not permanent. Thanks, Amelia
> Hi Amelia I get this also for me it's anxiety. Bet that's what yours is also try not to worry. Love Phillipa
Posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on May 18, 2009, at 17:02:42
In reply to Re: oh, so now I have hand tremor? PROZAC, you stink., posted by Justherself54 on May 18, 2009, at 6:34:13
Hello there,
Yes, yes, I am with you on the prozac. This last time I was put on it, I had to take 5mg every other day of the liquid, and it still made me feel high (no other signs of hypomania, just a feeling of being high).
I think I am not feeling that now b/c there was already some in my system--it's metabolite duofluoxetine takes forever to get out of the system--so yeah, I ramped up rather quickly, since I wasn't getting that old feeling of being high.
Fluoxetine being notorious for sneaking into the receptor sites for dopamine, I think I'm experiencing the effects of dopamine getting lowered.
Do you still have hand tremors (sounds like you aren't on lithium anymore)?
> I couldn't handle even small liquid doses of prozac so I can't comment on it, but Paxil gives my brother terrible hand tremors..
>
> Did you ramp up your dose really quickly? I had severe hand tremors on lithium (whole different thing I know) but I sure hear you..they are awful!
>
> Let us know how it goes..
Posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on May 18, 2009, at 17:04:49
In reply to Re: oh, so now I have hand tremor? PROZAC, you stink., posted by seldomseen on May 18, 2009, at 7:47:54
Really, relapses? It sounds like you are not on prozac anymore though, so you're saying you still get it anyway? Yikes. See, I thought involuntary movements were a part of dyskinesia.
Are you going to take the beta blocker? I have thought to do it, but my blood pressure is pretty darn low as is--doesn't it lower it?
> I developed a very high frequency basal tremor in my hands with Prozac as well. I never had involuntary large movements or jerking though.
>
> Tremor is a known side effect of prozac, But I don't think it is tardive dyskinesia.
>
> It was rather embarrassing though as I do a lot with my hands, and train people to do what I do. I always had to explain about the tremor.
>
> Now it relapses and remits (so odd).
>
> My pdoc asked if I wanted beta bockers to reduce the tremor.
>
>
Posted by sowhysosad on May 18, 2009, at 19:19:41
In reply to Re: oh, so now I have hand tremor? PROZAC, you stink. » seldomseen, posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on May 18, 2009, at 17:04:49
I usually get this when I'm on a serotonergic med Amelia.
I really don't think it's any kind of dyskinesia - it's more of a tic or myoclonic jerk.
I believe over-stimulation of one of the serotonin receptors can cause this kind of thing, as opposed to dyskinesias which are connected to dopamine receptors.
Posted by seldomseen on May 18, 2009, at 19:39:40
In reply to Re: oh, so now I have hand tremor? PROZAC, you stink. » seldomseen, posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on May 18, 2009, at 17:04:49
No, I'm still on prozac, sometimes I shake, sometimes I don't.
I don't find it that disruptive actually. A tremor is a small price to pay for a drug that works in my mind.
Seldom.
Posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on May 18, 2009, at 23:09:45
In reply to Re: oh, so now I have hand tremor? PROZAC, you stink. » Amelia_in_StPaul, posted by sowhysosad on May 18, 2009, at 19:19:41
Oh okay, thank you for explaining. I didn't realize that overstimulation of serotonin can lead to this. This explains why last time I went on Prozac, my leg sometimes jerked--it did feel like the kind of jerks you get as you fall asleep. So that this now is a tic or myoclonic jerk too, as well, makes a lot of sense.
> I usually get this when I'm on a serotonergic med Amelia.
>
> I really don't think it's any kind of dyskinesia - it's more of a tic or myoclonic jerk.
>
> I believe over-stimulation of one of the serotonin receptors can cause this kind of thing, as opposed to dyskinesias which are connected to dopamine receptors.
Posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on May 18, 2009, at 23:12:14
In reply to Re: oh, so now I have hand tremor? PROZAC, you stink., posted by seldomseen on May 18, 2009, at 19:39:40
I'm glad it works for you. You're right that it's a small price to pay when something works so well. This latest thing is just one of many problems I have with a drug that once did wonders for me. Oh well, I have an on/off mostly off 15+ years relationship with it, so I suppose eventually the end of my time with it was in the cards. I love it and hate it (Prozac). Hopefully my new pdoc can shake things up a bit, find a new combo or new med.
> No, I'm still on prozac, sometimes I shake, sometimes I don't.
>
> I don't find it that disruptive actually. A tremor is a small price to pay for a drug that works in my mind.
>
> Seldom.
Posted by sowhysosad on May 19, 2009, at 19:30:20
In reply to Re: oh, so now I have hand tremor? PROZAC, you stink. » sowhysosad, posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on May 18, 2009, at 23:09:45
> Oh okay, thank you for explaining. I didn't realize that overstimulation of serotonin can lead to this. This explains why last time I went on Prozac, my leg sometimes jerked--it did feel like the kind of jerks you get as you fall asleep. So that this now is a tic or myoclonic jerk too, as well, makes a lot of sense.
Yeah, I had identical side effects recently when I started taking 5-HTP supplements which confirmed my thought that it was a serotonin thing.
(In fact, all the 5-HTP side effects have been remarkably similar to those on SSRI's for me - almost identical to Paxil and Prozac in many ways).
The "falling asleep" jerks you mention are a (common and harmless) type of myoclonus, so it does sound like the similar movements you had before on Prozac were also myoclonus.
Posted by raisinb on May 20, 2009, at 21:59:02
In reply to oh, so now I have hand tremor? PROZAC, you stink., posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on May 17, 2009, at 20:07:43
I've had that several times. I used to worry it was Parkinson's--but that was just hypochondria :) Seems to be for two reasons--starting Zoloft made my hands shake unbearably for a week or so. Also, when I'm very fatigued, or am getting the flu, I have those finger-leaping tremors.
This is the end of the thread.
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