It's AKATHISIA when will it go?

[Searching]

I posted my symptoms a few days ago (can't rest my body) and as a result I and my doctor are sure that I am suffering from Akithisia. I can't sit for long, always needing to get up and move around. As soon as I'm up I feel exhausted and need to sit down. At the worst of it my stomach goes into a spasm and my legs begin to cramp and at the same time I can't stop drinking water - about 2 to 3 litlers in about 2hours - and my skin felt like it was burning over my body. THe affect continues on and on and at times it reduces me to tears. I am exhausted. It starts at about 4.a.m. and goes on to late after noon. It seems to ease a litlle around bed time. This condition I believe was brought on by a trycyclic antideppressants trofinal after the third aday of taking it in May 2007. When it first occured it was so distressing, the Doctors' thought I was manic deppressent so they pescribed heavy doses of anitphsycotic drugs - lithium, vlapro, serequol and also valium and xanax. (not all at the same time, tried one then the other sort of trial.) Nothing helped just made to feel like a zombie, and guess what antiphycotic drugs cause Akathisia. I've stopped most of the mood stablizers but symptoms persist. Perhaps not as severe but are still very distressing. I'm having trouble getting rid of the seroquel 25 mgs at night. It has a sedative affect but I suspect it is a double edge sword. It may be prolonging the Akithisia because it is an antiphycotic. Can Anybody tell me have you experience prolonged Akathisia. Will it go away and what did you take or do to make it go away. P.S I am not Manic Deppressent but have suffered from what I believe is mild to moderate deppresion on a few occasions over my life - 49 years old.

Did your symptoms every go away?

[markv]

This happens to me after taking metoclopramide. The symptoms last like a day and a half... It's horrible.

Did you successful treat your symptoms?

[Searching]

Hi Mark,

No the symptoms have not gone away but they have changed to a lessor degree. I found that stress and laying down in a prone position makes it worse. I have now discovered, after a great deal of self research and demading doctors do tests that I believd need to be done, that I am suffering Neuropathic pain. This is caused by various things but in my case most likely damage to my perrifial or central neverous system through injury to my spinal cord. Some tests are still pending. Medication does not help. Medication can also cause these symptoms, they are identical to Akathisia. But now I am geting pins and needles in my arms and a burning sensation over my body mouth and tongue. It is more the symptoms of neuropathic pain.

[markv]

Seems like yours is a different disorder. Mine is caused my some medicine and I swear that if I have it longer than a few days I would go totally insane. I have had about 3 episodes in my life and I don't wish them to my worse enemy.

Have you tried Valium/Xanax and Beta Blockers? Since your symptoms comes with pain, why don't you ask for some pain medication?

Post back in this thread whenever you get your results.

Best of luck

[Searching]

Hi Mark,

Yes I;'ve tried valium 10mgs does not do anything - will not even put me to sleep. Xanax is a bit better but I'm trying to stay away from them because they are highly addictive and I get side effects. They have a shorter life than other drugs in the same family.

Pain killers will reduce the normal pain only just a little but the neuropathic pain will not go away. WhatI believe is happening, from information I have received and read, is that the neurotransmitters or nervous system in my body, for some reason, are miss fireing into wrong pathways. What I should be feeling as pain I am feeling as heat, electricity and pins and needles. I've tried beta blockers early this year but only stayed on them for a few weks. they seemed to help but there is a trade off. I suffer from depression and beta blockers are know to worsen depression over time. I can;t seem to win at the moment but I will beat it. Then I hope to help aothers. Nobody sems to know much about the condition or how to teat it effectively without putting you to sleep.

Im on a drug could gababentin (spelling?) at first they were working a little so I uped the dose but know I feel the neuropathic pain in a sharper feeling. Hard to explain. I have no doubt that the problems sem from my spinal cord. I have had injuries to my back ove the years and a recent MRI confirms I have wo slight cor compretions and a few disk protrusions.
I will not know any further until I see the neuro on the 02/09/08 and the pain specilist on 04/08/08. And yes I know what you mean about it being unbearable. It has taken a lot of stregth for me to cope with this for over 15 months.

[Monsterlove]

Ask your doctor for a blood test for the varicella zoster virus antibody test. It sounds like it could be one of many herpes viruses. Seems like they are thinking shingles since they gave you gabapentin.

[acuann]

Do you know your serum B12 levels by chance? B12 deficiency can cause irreversible neurological problems and is almost always dismissed by doctors.

DOM

[marionstar]

To follow up on the B12 question, have you been tested for achlorhydria, or helicobacter pylori (stomach ulcer conditions)? You may have a condition called small bowel intestinal bacterial overgrowth; which you can learn about through google. If you have this, you may have a production of methane gas by the bacteria, which can make you very sick--it is a poison.

I have some similar symptoms to yours, in that if I lie on my back I have "rushes" of what feels like hormones or something (read as, I get worse); feel like my nerves are encased in an electric web; it takes til evening to begin to feel able to sit up and do anything; I have to drink at least 3 liters of water a day to keep up my volume (but I can do it throughout the day).

I eat very carefully, mostly protein and limit the carbohydrates because I feel worse when I eat much of them. Have you noticed any difference in your symptoms based on what you eat?

If you think small bowel intestinal bacterial overgrowth fits, consider enteric coated peppermint oil capsules; and replacement of B12 with methyl B-12 -- check out the B12 blog.

This may be way off-base for you, but who knows.

[Searching]

Dear all,

Thank you for all your advise and replies.

I have had a number of blood tests to rule out possible causes such as toxins, lead poisoning, B12, Lyme Desease, electrolites, and othrs some of which I have not got reply yet. I did ask my doctor to do a Zoster Herpies virous test (shingles) but he was convinced that I did not have shingles. I have never had a rash or soares that accompany shingles but does that mean I haven't got it.? Is there any obvious pysical signs that need to be present?. Al these tests are diffeential diagnoses for the casue of Neuropathic pain.

I have recently had an MRI on my neckand back - located 2 slight spinal cord compressions and a number of disc protrusions. Unbieliveably, when I was having the MRI done, at the locations where the spinal cord has minor compressions, I felt electric shocks go through both arms. I told this to the MRI driver but he dismissed it and stated there's nothing wrong with machine and this has never happened before.


I did not know I had these problems with my neck and back spinal cord before the MRI. At the time the MRI magnetic force was focused on the injury sites, this is where I had the electric shocks. Seemed like strong 12 volt shocks. one made me jump.

I see a pain management physician on Monday 04/08/2008 Australia time, he ordered the MRI so I don't know what the diagnoses or prognosise is at this stage. Or even if it is related to what I am experiencing.

The gabapentin medication for neuropathic pain seemed to work for about one week, decreased the sensations enough to cope. My phsychologial state improved during this time. Then the symptoms returned. Just like the other medication - Lyrica. I upped the does as advised by my doctor and the symptoms became worse than not having any medication.
Unfortunately I'm sensative to food dyes, colours, chemicals etc. And I suppose some medications can give me unusual symptoms. It only becomes a phsycological or physical problem when I continue to put these into my body for a few days or weeks. Procees foods and additives are a problem for me if I eat them every day. The affects are not severe but they can alter my mood and increase pain if I eat them every day.

Pardon my language but, ****, I'm exhausted. Coming off the medication is worse than the conditon itself. It magnifies the sensations as I am withdrawing. The sensation seems to be worse in my left shoulder blade area. I am thinking that possibly there is a nerve damaged or trapped in this area. It may be contributing or even be the cause of the problems. I've got no idea but the medical system is to slow in helping me.
At thew worst of it I feel like crying and going to the nearest hospital and begging somebody to please help. The only way to cope with this feeling when it gets to bad ( mostly around the morning and lasts to about7p.m.) is to be sedated, it gets that bad. Stress aggravates it. I cannot sit still with it. When I move around I get tired and want to just full down, although it seems like I have nervous energy from the cratching your nails on the black board feeling. It is a cycle that has at times nearly caused me to become histerical. I can't go to a doctor or hospital in this condition because I fear that they may think I'm nuts. I can only describe it in this sort of metephor - imagine you had a broken leg the bone is protruding, you are in so much pain you cannot bare it, you just want to get knocked out. But the doctor, (who has never seen or dealt with a broken bone before, he does not know what it is) is telling you that it is all in your head. he can't see any problem and that it is a symatiphor disorder because you are depressed. ****! how can I not be depressed, I have a bloody bone sticking out of my leg. Can't you see it. I'm frustrated with the doctors, and the specialists, I've been waiting 4 months to see a neurologost.

I will insist on further blood tests if this MRI investigation is not the cause. I'm learning every day - don't wait for somebody else to fix you . I have to help them help me. It has taken me a great deal of research, to educate myself and my local GP, but I am getting closer. In my unprofessional suffering opinion, I have neurologic pain syndrom due to perifial or central nervous system damage somewhere. I need to find somebody that can test the nerve pathways. I assume that would be a neurologist but I have to wait untill 02/09/08 to see him.

Thankyou for writing and your interest. I will keep you informed of my progress. I will find the answer and hopefully pass on what has worked for me.

My name is Tass.