[Wild Coyote]

I have experienced dystonia with some meds.

Haldol - A very low dose gave me neck/shoulder dystonia.
Wellbutrin (bupropion) - I get neck/shoulder dystonia at/above 200 mg.

Abilify- I am experiencing dystonia in my feet/legs at 10 mg. Awakens me through the night. I am also getting a little in my hands/arms. I am going to drop back down to 8 mg. to see if the dystonia lets up.

I have had dystonia with other meds, too.
No matter the location, it's very painful stuff!

In all fairness, I have a neuromuscular condition which makes me more prone to dystonia and myotonia.

I have had some success with using Benadryl (diphenhydramine) for neck/shoulder dystonia in the past. I am going to try this again tonight to see if alleviates the dystonia in my feet/legs.

Have you experienced dystonia with your psych meds?
Where was your dystonia located?
Which remedies did you use? Which were helpful?


I hope we can possibly help one another by sharing information.

WC

Once when I had been on the 1st generation antipsychotic Navane (Thiothixene) something really freaked me out. I was just sitting doing something and my lips puckered all by themselves. It felt very strange. I won't even compare it to anything similar. If you get my drift. It happened twice in one day so I called my psychiatrist asap. He gave me an emergency appointment and lowered my dose by half saying he believed it was a dystonia. Luckily at the lower dose it didn't happen again, but the fact that it did happen made him gradually take me off that antipsychotic and onto Seroquel XR, which was my new second antipsychotic (I was also on Geodon at the time), not to mention other psych meds.

The above-mentioned dystonia was the only other EPS I've had other than akathisia, which I've had from three different antipsychotics (Zyprexa, Abilify and Geodon). I'm no longer on Geodon. Just Seroquel XR, Tegretol XR and a little Lamictal.

My psychiatrist told me that Seroquel (and it's extended release form) generally has a lower chance of causing EPS than other antipsychotics. It, along with my small dose of Lamictal, is the primary medication my psychiatrist uses to calm my depression. It is also best at calming my mania, along with Tegretol XR, and even anxiety. I am not able to take antidepressants. They almost always make me manic or mixed.

[99fairies]

I am going through dystonia right now. The pain starts in my neck and goes down my arms and it's in my back and down my legs. I'm on geodon, lamicatal and zoplicone. I've been through dozens of AP's trying to find one that doesn't cause it but so far we've found nothing. I'm taking prosycladine right now and it has always worked in the past but not this time' nothing helps me now.

[Wild Coyote]

This article might help us all to better understand: https://www.medicinenet.com/dystonia...dystonia_facts

[99fairies]

Very helpful article, thanks for sharing.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by 99fairies

I am going through dystonia right now. The pain starts in my neck and goes down my arms and it's in my back and down my legs. I'm on geodon, lamicatal and zoplicone. I've been through dozens of AP's trying to find one that doesn't cause it but so far we've found nothing. I'm taking prosycladine right now and it has always worked in the past but not this time' nothing helps me now.

I am very sorry you suffer like this. I hope you can find a viable alternative. Although the general thinking is that the older AP meds are more likely to cause dystonia, etc., I have found I can tolerate some of the older APs without dystonia.

(My current issue is: I am looking for an AP helpful with bipolar depression. Those are extremely limited. I am now experiencing dystonia with Abilify and with Wellbutrin, when I did not used to experience dystonia with these two meds.)

I hope and pray we each can find helpful answers.


WC

[99fairies]

I'm thinking the Geodon is what's causing it this time. It's the only AP I'm on right now.

[Wild Coyote]

A med does not have to be an AP to cause dystonia.

Just for an example: I was very surprised to have Wellbutrin (bupropion) cause neck/shoulder/back dystonia. I'd tested it repeatedly because I'd had such a hard time believing it! Wellbutrin is not an AP. Wellbutrin can cause dystonia and more, just like AP meds. Other meds can do the same.

I had a friend given an anti-nausea med in an ER and she went into an immediate severe dystonic reaction. Scared everyone.


WC

[Wild Coyote]

A very helpful article on drug-induced dystonias and tardive dyskinesias:

https://www.dystonia-foundation.org/...n-drug-induced


WC

[99fairies]

That is interesting. Do you have any idea what might be causing it for me? I've been on lamictal and zoplicone for about 5 years, with no problems this far.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Only ocular dystonia from geodon. So scary and I couldnt see!

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87

Only ocular dystonia from geodon. So scary and I couldnt see!

That is very scary!

WC

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by 99fairies

That is interesting. Do you have any idea what might be causing it for me? I've been on lamictal and zoplicone for about 5 years, with no problems this far.

Oh, wow - I wish I could tell you!

I've figured out some of mine through lots of trials and re-trials.
Did you see the last article I'd posted?

It had briefly talked about the differences between dystonia and tardive dystonia (which is a tardive dyskinesia).

It made me wonder if I am so susceptible because I might already have tardive dystonia? It's something I am bringing up with my pdoc tomorrow.

Can you relate to that last article posted? The dystonia and/or the tardive dystonia?


WC

[~Christina]

I have so sorry for any of you that suffer this horrible life changing side effect

[99fairies]

I just read it. So it could be practically anything I'm on. Now just to find out what it is will be the trick. This all started for me when I started the invega shot two years. I've been off it for 6 months, but still have not had a menstrual cycle, so it might still be in my system...who knows?

[99fairies]

This thread got me thinking and because of the state I'm in I decided to call my pharmacist and he said the shot could definitely still be in my system and causing the dystonia since the first time I had it was from the invega. Something to think about anyways.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Have you experienced dystonia with your psych meds?
Twice. Once on Geodon and once on loxapine. Maybe on Abilify too but I can't remember for sure.

Where was your dystonia located?

Both times my facial/oral muscles. With loxapine it was pretty much generalized. With geodon I don't really remember.

Which remedies did you use? Which were helpful? With Geodon I just went off, really quickly because I was having other disturbing symptoms at the same time. With loxapine I initially took valium until I could see y pdoc and then I went on cogentin. We also tried lowering doses and I wound up IP. That didn't work so I went off it. Too bad since it was working well for me and if I'd gotten to a real dose it might have been a lot easier than the clozapine I wound up on instead.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by 99fairies

This thread got me thinking and because of the state I'm in I decided to call my pharmacist and he said the shot could definitely still be in my system and causing the dystonia since the first time I had it was from the invega. Something to think about anyways.

It's wise to check-in with the experts like this. They have enough knowledge to potentially be very helpful.


WC

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

Have you experienced dystonia with your psych meds?
Twice. Once on Geodon and once on loxapine. Maybe on Abilify too but I can't remember for sure.

Where was your dystonia located?

Both times my facial/oral muscles. With loxapine it was pretty much generalized. With geodon I don't really remember.

Which remedies did you use? Which were helpful? With Geodon I just went off, really quickly because I was having other disturbing symptoms at the same time. With loxapine I initially took valium until I could see y pdoc and then I went on cogentin. We also tried lowering doses and I wound up IP. That didn't work so I went off it. Too bad since it was working well for me and if I'd gotten to a real dose it might have been a lot easier than the clozapine I wound up on instead.

Thanks so much for sharing. Must have been very scary to have the dyskinesias of the face?

It's very unfortunate to get these side-effects.

WC

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

Once when I had been on the 1st generation antipsychotic Navane (Thiothixene) something really freaked me out. I was just sitting doing something and my lips puckered all by themselves. It felt very strange. I won't even compare it to anything similar. If you get my drift. It happened twice in one day so I called my psychiatrist asap. He gave me an emergency appointment and lowered my dose by half saying he believed it was a dystonia. Luckily at the lower dose it didn't happen again, but the fact that it did happen made him gradually take me off that antipsychotic and onto Seroquel XR, which was my new second antipsychotic (I was also on Geodon at the time), not to mention other psych meds.

The above-mentioned dystonia was the only other EPS I've had other than akathisia, which I've had from three different antipsychotics (Zyprexa, Abilify and Geodon). I'm no longer on Geodon. Just Seroquel XR, Tegretol XR and a little Lamictal.

My psychiatrist told me that Seroquel (and it's extended release form) generally has a lower chance of causing EPS than other antipsychotics. It, along with my small dose of Lamictal, is the primary medication my psychiatrist uses to calm my depression. It is also best at calming my mania, along with Tegretol XR, and even anxiety. I am not able to take antidepressants. They almost always make me manic or mixed.

Akathisias, dyskinesias, dystonias are all very uncomfortable and disturbing.
Thanks for sharing with us.


WC

[Wild Coyote]

FWIW: I did get some relief last night by using Benadryl (diphenhydramine).

I am still very concerned about the potential for permanent (tardive) dystonia.
I will discuss with my pdoc today.


WC

[99fairies]

Let us know how your appointment goes.

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

O

It made me wonder if I am so susceptible because I might already have tardive dystonia? It's something I am bringing up with my pdoc tomorrow.

Can you relate to that last article posted? The dystonia and/or the tardive dystonia?


WC

This makes a lot of sense to me.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

FWIW: I did get some relief last night by using Benadryl (diphenhydramine).

I am still very concerned about the potential for permanent (tardive) dystonia.
I will discuss with my pdoc today.


WC

I've had a long chat with my pdoc.

We first want to determine if the dystonia will stop completely.

Will it stop with a taper?
Will it stop when I am totally off Abilify?

We'll be adjusting meds to see what happens.


WC

[99fairies]

Invega can stay in your system for a year after you stop it. I will bring this up with my pdoc visit on monday.