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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by honeybee on May 12, 2006, at 13:13:40
This may not be the appropriate place for this question, but since so many people frequent this board, in particular, and because it has something to do with meds, I thought I'd post here.
Last December I entered the worst depression of my life, with lots of concomitant physical symptomology, aside from a brainfreeze, difficulty concentrating and with memory. Of course, this made me think that it was physical, instead of "just" depression, because I had only, apparently, been moderately depressed before.
One of the things that I noticed was extreme psychomotor agitation. I was having trouble, at times, sitting still, and developed muscle twitches reminiscent of the kind that you have when you're about to fall asleep. In fact, that's when I would most notice them, aside from some full body jerks that would come out of the blue, or mixed in with the various twitching. That doesn't reside, say, in a particular part of my body, like my legs. The only part of me that seems to be spared is my front torso.
I saw a neurologist about, not the twitching, but a numbness I also developed at the time. I mentioned the twitching. And, though I don't recall word for word what he said, he seemed to think that my case didn't seem to need an MRI, since they tested for lyme (twice; I come up negative) and he did an exam. He said, My sense is that you don't have MS (the tingling is what he was addressing), and that this is all probably the depression talking.
Fine. Maybe it is. And maybe I'm too much of a wuss to challenge doctors.
Anyway, the numbness has finally gone away. Huzzah! After five months. (Knock wood.) The twitching *went away with SAM-e* (I was up to 800 mg. at one point) but returned when I went off to go onto lexapro. It's not *so* bad, but it's disturbing, and I'm anxious to understand if it's *just* a function of the depression or something else. I've had so many tests and so much bloodwork in the past five months that I feel like I should wait so as to not pester my doctor. (Seriously, I'm at her office *way* too often.) My bloodwork always turns up fine--thyroid, progesterone, LH, FSH, I "passed" the dexa. suppr. test, my liver results are marvey--but it's unsettling to have so many complaints, so many moving parts, and to simply be returned to the "it's just depression." The twitching didn't fully go away on Cymbalta, nor the Lexapro I went on last week (though it didn't get much of a change). A problem with dopamine, anyone?
So, at the end of it, does it sound like "the depression" to everyone else?
Even if no one has a chance to respond, it's nice to just have the frustration and confusion out there. My pdoc just said, Did you talk to a neurologist? When I told him what he said, we ended up getting sidetracked and not addressing it again, though he did hmmm, and say "very interesting" when I told him that the twitching went away on SAM-e.
Sigh.
Thanks for listening everyone.
Posted by kimcrazylady on May 12, 2006, at 14:58:22
In reply to question about psychmotor issues and depression, posted by honeybee on May 12, 2006, at 13:13:40
> This may not be the appropriate place for this question, but since so many people frequent this board, in particular, and because it has something to do with meds, I thought I'd post here.
>
> Last December I entered the worst depression of my life, with lots of concomitant physical symptomology, aside from a brainfreeze, difficulty concentrating and with memory. Of course, this made me think that it was physical, instead of "just" depression, because I had only, apparently, been moderately depressed before.
>
> One of the things that I noticed was extreme psychomotor agitation. I was having trouble, at times, sitting still, and developed muscle twitches reminiscent of the kind that you have when you're about to fall asleep. In fact, that's when I would most notice them, aside from some full body jerks that would come out of the blue, or mixed in with the various twitching. That doesn't reside, say, in a particular part of my body, like my legs. The only part of me that seems to be spared is my front torso.
>
> I saw a neurologist about, not the twitching, but a numbness I also developed at the time. I mentioned the twitching. And, though I don't recall word for word what he said, he seemed to think that my case didn't seem to need an MRI, since they tested for lyme (twice; I come up negative) and he did an exam. He said, My sense is that you don't have MS (the tingling is what he was addressing), and that this is all probably the depression talking.
>
> Fine. Maybe it is. And maybe I'm too much of a wuss to challenge doctors.
>
> Anyway, the numbness has finally gone away. Huzzah! After five months. (Knock wood.) The twitching *went away with SAM-e* (I was up to 800 mg. at one point) but returned when I went off to go onto lexapro. It's not *so* bad, but it's disturbing, and I'm anxious to understand if it's *just* a function of the depression or something else. I've had so many tests and so much bloodwork in the past five months that I feel like I should wait so as to not pester my doctor. (Seriously, I'm at her office *way* too often.) My bloodwork always turns up fine--thyroid, progesterone, LH, FSH, I "passed" the dexa. suppr. test, my liver results are marvey--but it's unsettling to have so many complaints, so many moving parts, and to simply be returned to the "it's just depression." The twitching didn't fully go away on Cymbalta, nor the Lexapro I went on last week (though it didn't get much of a change). A problem with dopamine, anyone?
>
> So, at the end of it, does it sound like "the depression" to everyone else?
>
> Even if no one has a chance to respond, it's nice to just have the frustration and confusion out there. My pdoc just said, Did you talk to a neurologist? When I told him what he said, we ended up getting sidetracked and not addressing it again, though he did hmmm, and say "very interesting" when I told him that the twitching went away on SAM-e.
>
> Sigh.
>
> Thanks for listening everyone.
>I hate to say I'm glad I'm not the only one with the body twitches, but it proves to me the strong nature of these meds or our condition. I got them after going off Parnate and trying a few other drugs. I saw a neurologist and had every test in the book run. All showed there was nothing wrong. Except, I had unexplained muscle spasms. The word they used for it was Myoclonus (fancy word for muscle spasms). Once I got back on the Parnate, they subsided for the most part. Now the only time I have them is when I'm in bed before falling asleep or just waking up. That is normal, or so I'm told. I may have had one or two during the day, but I can live with that.
And for the record, depression comes with a host of physical symptoms. There is even a commercial now about that. I think the drug is Cymbalta, but I'm not sure. I read an article about it on line somewhere too. If I can ever track it down, I'll post it.
Kim
Posted by honeybee on May 12, 2006, at 16:05:01
In reply to Re: question about psychmotor issues and depression, posted by kimcrazylady on May 12, 2006, at 14:58:22
Wow, Kim,
Really? It's a weird thing, this twitching. It seems to have settled down, and I really can't say that I can pin it to a med, though it really might have been concomitant with my going on/off Effexor in December.
My last gut sensor tells me that it's nothing to worry about, and it did go away with the SAM-e. Makes me think it might be dopamine related, but I'm not one of the med experts on the board. So who knows?
Anything that you do that helps it? Or did the neuro give you any kind of advice about nutrition (fish oil, for example) that might help with it?
Thanks for responding.
b
Posted by blueberry on May 12, 2006, at 18:03:57
In reply to question about psychmotor issues and depression, posted by honeybee on May 12, 2006, at 13:13:40
I think abnormal movements like twitching are primarily dopamine related. Not exactly the same as parkinson's, but something in that category probably. Your hunch that SAMe might have been boosting dopamine sounds like a good hunch. Serotonin can come into play also, sometimes worsening symptoms but sometimes easing them. But primarily I think it is a dopamine thing. Definitely not an expert on it, but then, the neurologist doesn't seem to be either. :-(
Posted by Phillipa on May 12, 2006, at 22:49:31
In reply to Re: question about psychmotor issues and depression, posted by blueberry on May 12, 2006, at 18:03:57
I got the twitching both with cymbalta and lexapro. My husband had to keep his hand on my legs so I could try and sleep even with valium. Had to dicontinue those meds now on luvox nothing good or bad. Love Phillipa ps I went the neurologist route too . MRI's ruled out MS and my chronic lymes.
Posted by kimcrazylady on May 13, 2006, at 18:11:48
In reply to Re: question about psychmotor issues and depression, posted by honeybee on May 12, 2006, at 16:05:01
I think it's a dopamine thing, but who knows. It started for me when trying new meds after going off Parnate for a while, but I was on a duo, so I can't say for sure if a med/or which med was responsible.
Yes, it's freaky. As I said, mine has mostly disappeared now that I'm back on Parnate (which affects dopamine). My neurologist was amazed and said if I ever get it again to take notes and let him know since he'd never run into something like this in all his years of practise. He'd put me on Keppra, but once I started Parnate, I weaned off Keppra (without telling him) and was better. I'd started back on Parnate the same week he gave me the Keppra, so I wanted to find out if I actually needed the Keppra. He was thrilled I didn't (not even upset I went off without telling him either....good neurologist!!)
I hate hearing others have this too, but in a way it is comforting to know I'm not a freak. LOL
Kim
This is the end of the thread.
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