Twitching and muscle spasms - Update

I posted a while ago about twitching

The twitching has gotten much worse. It looks like I have Tourettes or Parkinson's. I saw a neurologist and had them ruled out. Dr said she has not seen anything exactly like it from a neuro point of view. They believe it is psychological. I was on 30 mg Lexapro and 5 mg of valium as needed. (I don't take the valium because it doesn't really help and I'm afraid of getting addicted)

Finally found a psychiatrist. She seemed nice. Said she had never seen anything like it and admitted treatment would be trial and error. I have only problems with anxiety / panic attacks in the past. No depression, racing thought trouble sleeping or anything else. She prescribed Latuda starting at 10mg for 5 days then up to 20mg while at the same time going slowly off Lexapro.

While reading up on Latuda it seems like this drug would have nothing to do with my problem. I don't have schizophrenia or bipolar or any depression. I think I just have anxiety.

Anyone taking Latuda for anxiety?mAny thoughts?

Post Edited (Lubock) : 5/12/2018 10:42:56 AM (GMT-6)

I took 15mg. of Mirtazapine antidepressant for about 2 or 3 years, and my toes twitched every night right after I took that medicine at bedtime.

Finally, I thought it might be the med, so my psychiatrist reduced the Mirtazapine from 15mg. at night, to 7.5.mg. The twitching stopped.

It was the medicine Mirtazapine which caused the twitching in my toes. (WebMD.com says, "Twitching muscles" can be a side affect of Mirtazapine.

So, when you say, ""I posted a while ago about twitching. The twitching has gotten much worse" I'm thinking, it might be the medicine.

Net (sunovionprofile.com) says "LATUDA is an atypical antipsychotic" for treatment of "major depressive episode associated with bipolar I disorder (bipolar depression)."

The same website said about side effects of Latuda: "Adult patients with schizophrenia: somnolence, akathisia, extrapyramidal symptoms, and nausea."

WebMD.com says about the above, akathisia, "This condition makes it hard to stay still. It causes an urge to move that you can’t control. You might need to fidget all the time, walk in place, or cross and uncross your legs. It’s a type of movement disorder. Akathisia is often hard to describe, and it can take over your life.

"Usually, akathisia is a side effect of antipsychotic drugs. You take these medicines to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other brain conditions. That means your doctor can change your medicine or dose to relieve your symptoms of akathisia."

So it looks like in my amateur opinion, that it's the Latuda antipsychotic which is causing you this twitching.

I took an antipsychotic, Stelazine, and I wanted to walk or keep moving constantly. So antipsychotics are famous for this wanting to keep moving, muscle twitching, or, as it says above, "Usually, akathisia is a side effect of antipsychotic drugs."

Also it says on sunovionprofile.com:

"The effectiveness of LATUDA for longer-term use, that is, for more than 6 weeks, has not been established in controlled studies. Therefore, the physician who elects to use LATUDA for extended periods should periodically re-evaluate the long-term usefulness of the drug for the individual patient."

Hi L.,

I am sorry to read that your symptom has gotten worse. I know this must be so frustrating for you.

Am I reading correctly that you took 5 mg of Valium and it had no affect on your twitching? That is surprising considering that benzos are highly effective in relieving anxiety and its symptoms. If you had not been told by two professionals that this is purely anxiety related, I would be apt to say that continuing to find another cause would be a good step. However, 5 mg of Valium is not a large dose and if you had any amount of relief whatsoever, I would recommend trying to up your mg's until you get the results you need. This would only be temporary, while you work on other management strategies...(therapy and your start up of the Latuda) so addiction would not be a big risk/concern.

I am hoping you get the answers and relief you need soon! Keep us updated, so we can keep you in support!

S.C.

Lexapro is a good medicine,sorry to know its not working for you and making you have spasms.

Have you done labs for minerals and electrolytes?

Sometimes brain circuit faulty wiring causes spasms.

MRI will give you answers.

L.,

I am so saddened to hear of your parent's passing! Of course caring for them and their deaths have been extremely difficult for you. I can't imagine what you are going through!

I really encourage you to ask your doctor about a temporary increase for your benzo Rx. If there was ever a time and situation when you would need the help it can provide...now is it.

I also hope that you are able to get in to talk with someone that can help you gain the tools to move through the process of your grieving and manage your anxiety to the best of your ability during this time.

We are also here for you friend...so keep talking to us if you find it helpful.

S.C.

I'm very sorry for your loss. It would be hard losing one let alone two at once. I'm happy you're finding some peace.

Also, it's great that maybe the med is helping you. Most do take awhile to actually work so it's great that you are seeing results.

I have essential tremors that sometimes are worse than other times so I do sort of understand what you're saying.