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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by ihatedrugs on November 17, 2013, at 16:38:37
My dr. prescribed Cogentin for Abilify-induced akathisia. I haven't taken it yet but was wondering if it would help me sleep. I haven't been able to sleep for a week even with 2 ambiens + 3mg klonopin. I can't just rough it out because the depression is too much to bear for so long without a break.
However, I'm weary of taking Cogentin since for me is new and I even read reports of people hallucinating. I'm so scared of taking anything that would push me further down into the dark hole. Please suggestions.
Posted by linkadge on November 17, 2013, at 16:46:22
In reply to Does Cogentin help with sleep?, posted by ihatedrugs on November 17, 2013, at 16:38:37
cogentin is tends to improve peoples mood.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on November 17, 2013, at 17:01:03
In reply to Does Cogentin help with sleep?, posted by ihatedrugs on November 17, 2013, at 16:38:37
If it controls or eliminates akathesia wouldn't this make it easier to sleep? Less anxiety? Phillipa
Posted by nix on November 21, 2013, at 2:32:14
In reply to Does Cogentin help with sleep?, posted by ihatedrugs on November 17, 2013, at 16:38:37
This combo, or rather, Abilify at all if you're seeing significant EPS, is bad bad news IMO. My personal experience was basically exactly what you're worried about.
This was about a year ago, while I was in a partial hospitalization program. Abilify was added... improved my mood for about five days, but made me more and more agitated. Day six: Acute Dystonia and a trip to the ER. They were too busy to see me so I just spent about 5 hours writhing in pain in a dingy waiting room. The next day the p-doc dropped the dose to 2mg and added 0.5mg Cogentin (I forget how often; I still have the bottle but it just says PRN). This kept the the akasthesia at bay for a couple of days, but gave me mild visual hallucinations (tracers and such) and made me even more scatterbrained than usual.
Three days later the dystonia set in again with such force and speed that I could barely manage to breathe. A lot of good the benztropine did. I needed an ambulance. I couldn't speak. By the grace of god or whomever, the two rookie EMTs who were about to inject me with with MORE antipsychotics were stopped their captain; he properly recognized what was going on and instead gave me 100mg Benadryl IV. Probably saved my life.
I can only speak for myself, but I would say either switch to a different atypical or if you're only taking it as an adjunct for depression, abandon that avenue of treatment entirely. If you're getting significant EPS from them, I just don't think they're worth it. Having to add an adjunct medication to combat the side effects of an adjunct medication... tells me one shouldn't be taking that first adjunct in the first place.
In the end Seroquel is the atypical I could tolerate. I only take it PRN and only at night, because it still make me feel like shiza in the morning.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on November 22, 2013, at 6:04:04
In reply to Does Cogentin help with sleep?, posted by ihatedrugs on November 17, 2013, at 16:38:37
First of all, I agree with Nix. If this is akathisia, the cause should be removed.
Secondly, Cogentin does tend to help sleep, at least initially.
> My dr. prescribed Cogentin for Abilify-induced akathisia. I haven't taken it yet but was wondering if it would help me sleep. I haven't been able to sleep for a week even with 2 ambiens + 3mg klonopin. I can't just rough it out because the depression is too much to bear for so long without a break.
> However, I'm weary of taking Cogentin since for me is new and I even read reports of people hallucinating. I'm so scared of taking anything that would push me further down into the dark hole. Please suggestions.
This is the end of the thread.
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