[Martina]

So, I'm freaking myself out while waiting for my pnurse to get in the office so I can call her.

My arm is twitching. Maybe it's nothing. I don't know.

I've been on antipsychotics for THREE YEARS (even when I begged to get off them several times). I know I'm at risk for tardive dyskinesia, among other things.

So, if any of you have TD - could you describe it for me? How do I know the difference between just an everyday arm twitch, and TD?

[Perna]

So, did you call your pnurse? What did she say? She's probably the best one to help you as she's the one who knows you and can help you determine if you are having a reaction to a med you're taking. There's a zillion reasons for muscle twitching, ehealth has an entire forum for them? http://ehealthforum.com/health/topic5889.html

[lavieenrose]

Martina, tardive dyskinesthia is involuntary movements of the lips and tongue, NOT the arm. Don't worry.

[buttrfli42481]

Tardive dyskinesia is a neurological syndrome caused by the long-term use of neuroleptic drugs. Neuroleptic drugs are generally prescribed for psychiatric disorders, as well as for some gastrointestinal and neurological disorders. Tardive dyskinesia is characterized by repetitive, involuntary, purposeless movements. Features of the disorder may include grimacing, tongue protrusion, lip smacking, puckering and pursing, and rapid eye blinking. Rapid movements of the arms, legs, and trunk may also occur. Involuntary movements of the fingers may appear as though the patient is playing an invisible guitar or piano.

from: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tardive/tardive.htm

I hope you got the answer you were looking for from your pnurse. I found this information just by googling tardive dyskenisia, I hope it helps calm your fears.

[abience]

Martina,
It's different for different people. It's best to talk to your pnurse. Mine was total body spasms when I was asleep and I had been on abilify for over a year when it started. We each respond differently at different times if we do respond. I haven't heard of it affecting just one arm though. But I'm not the expert, that's why you need to talk to your pnurse.

Take care.

A

[Martina]

Well sorry for asking a question. My pnurse was with patients all day and I was curious in the meantime. I can't just call her at any moment of the day and expect her to drop everything to talk to me (unless of course I'm suicidal). Maybe your pdocs are like that, but mine's not. She has other patients, and she doesn't answer the phone on her lunch break.

[abience]

Originally Posted by Martina

Well sorry for asking a question. My pnurse was with patients all day and I was curious in the meantime. I can't just call her at any moment of the day and expect her to drop everything to talk to me (unless of course I'm suicidal). Maybe your pdocs are like that, but mine's not. She has other patients, and she doesn't answer the phone on her lunch break.

Martina,

The answers aren't meant to make you angry or to imply that your pnurse does just drop everything. I usally just leave a message for my pdoc to call and when she can get back with me, she will call. I'm sorry you were upset by the answers you received and feel as if you couldn't ask a question. Unfortunately none of us that replied are professionals with the right answer. We are just providing you with our answers and what we did in our experiences. Again, sorry if this made you angry which was not the intent.

A

[spacemonkey36]

I had a critical episode of TD, Thanksgiving day of 2008, and it sent me to the ER via 911. But I was twitching and spasming so bad that my toungue had a mind of it's own--I couldn't even really tell the 911 operator what was happening. I also had severe neck spasms, and oh, man, I don't think there were many of the muscles in my upper body that weren't affected...even my lower body was restless.

It took 2 firemen to hold my arm steady for the medic to put my IV in, and I got the Benedryl, which is what TD is treated with when it becomes emergent. I can't tell you what to do, but off the record, from my own experience, it works--use the dosing info on the package, or at least until you can talk to the pnurse...that's what I've done.

But I had to dump the atypicals because it gave me diabetes-insulin-dependent, that doctors were having an extremely difficult time controlling (another nasty side effect they don't tell you about), and my A1c was never in the normal range, or even close...I have nerve damage from it. But it doesn't happen to everyone who takes it but is something to be aware of.

But these guys are right--and even if it didn't occur in the arm--which it can, if you feel you're having side effects of meds that are troublesome, your provider always needs to know...

JMO.

Good luck-hope you feel better soon!
JJ

[schitzoaffective]

I know when i had a reaction it was like i couldnt sit still, i had to keep bouncing my leg or get up and pace i just felt nervous like if i would stop moving something bad would happen. Im not sure if what you described is a case of TD but i know you dont wanna hear it again perhaps you should talk to your pdoc about it, it could be nothing, or a wierd spasm. I hope all goes well with your next vist.

[eskielover]

Not sure if that was what I experienced, of what, but it was like having parkinsons. I had no idea what was happening....just all of a sudden, I couldn't even feed myself....couldn't get food from my plate to my mouth. I couldn't walk without help....couldn't even get myself into the bathroom. Husband would take me in before he left for work, then would be gone for 12+ hours before getting home & immediately had to take me to the bathroom again. I couldn't lay down to sleep....sort of slept propped up on my bed. It was the worst nightmare of a time that I had ever experienced. Right after it hit, I ended up going to the "urgent care". I had been taking compozine for the migraine nausea that was making me so sick I couldn't eat & was also on thorozine for some reason, my pdoc through it would help me get through the stress of the neck fusion surgery I went through & think he just didn't take me off after I got through the surgery.

Urgent care noticed the compozine & said that could cause that kind of problem.....so I stopped it & it didn't go away. Finally went back to my neurologist I had originally gone to for my migraines & he caught the thorozine as continuing the problem......it took another month + before I was able to be normal again. Guess I should count my blessings that I was able to end up without permanent problems from that.

I hated to be stuck in the house.....toward the end, my husband would help me walk into a store or help me do something so I wasn't so stuck in the house......very horrible experience. Good thing to take care of before it gets to the point that it did with me....but I didn't even notice it before it was immediately BAD.

Sending you much care.

[greylove]

I have tardive dyskenesia. TD. I was on Abilify (the older proven antipsychotic that is usually the go to first choice of many pdocs). I started with symptoms soon after starting it. Lots of finger movement (described as "playing the piano with an index finger") I didn't give it a thought.......nor to my right leg that started twitching. The fast blinking was not even noticed. When I started to have tongue and jaw movements I went to my dentist. I was concerned and reassured that my teeth and jaw were fine. I brought it up several times with my pdoc. Each time he questioned whether my jaw had been injured in my suicide attempt, or do I have TMJ (jaw bone pain that can worsen progressively ). After several weeks of this I diagnosed myself. TD is rare, but serious. I had been doing some reading. I took myself off the miniscule amount of Abilify that I was taking (I'm now on a different anti psychotic) but I have worsening TD that in this case isn't reversible. In addition to all the twitching, my tongue constantly curls and goes to the roof of my mouth. I clamp my teeth a lot to keep the sides of my mouth from getting trapped between my jaws. I'm now having all over body spasms, plus severe shaking and trembling. I get relief only when I am asleep. I found out after the fact that I was in the highest risk group (age and gender). My pdoc had never seen it, but I'm not excusing him from not knowing about the symptoms. I'm still with him.....not many around and he is a nice man, conservative with medications. It's too late for me, but I'm descibing my symptoms for you, or anyone else, to recognize. All the best.......grey

[madisgram]

Originally Posted by Martina

Well sorry for asking a question. My pnurse was with patients all day and I was curious in the meantime. I can't just call her at any moment of the day and expect her to drop everything to talk to me (unless of course I'm suicidal). Maybe your pdocs are like that, but mine's not. She has other patients, and she doesn't answer the phone on her lunch break.

martina, i had the beginning of this with involutary movements. couldn't sit or stand still. out of my mind, i was. took about 5 days off med before it ceased. glad you put this thread in while waiting for pnurse. so much helpful info and support. i suspect, tho no pdoc, you may be having early warning signs.
let us know how u r.we care.