Exploring Mental Health Medication Risks

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GlitterFountain

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I just read a good book called "Your Drug May Be Your Problem" by Peter Breggin, M.D. He is considered a rebel in the psychiatry field, as I'm sure some of the docs on this board will confirm. Still, I found his ideas interesting. He writes about how anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, ADHD stimulants and other drugs that affect the brain can actually leave some people with twitching, parasthesias, jerking, etc. Even some "natural" herbs are implicated because they have psychoactive properties. (My doctors feel these are to blame in my case.) These neurological issues can appear at anytime when starting, maintaining or even months AFTER stopping these drugs. Sometimes the issues are permanent. I don't want to scare anyone into stopping a medication without speaking to your physician. Dr. Breggin clearly advises AGAINST this as stopping abruptly is dangerous. But, if you have ever been on one of these meds, you may wish to read this book to see if it applies to your situation and then speak to your own doctor.My BFS has actually improved after tapering off Klonopin over a 6 month period. I'm glad I had it at the beginning, though. I remain on Keppra XR, but my neuro hopes to taper that sometime in the future.
 
I have always suspected that Lexapro triggered my twitching. I had never taken any SSRI, SNRI, or benzodiazepine prior to Lexapro being prescribed. Unfortunately, even after stopping all meds, the twitching never stopped. And so it continues…
 
I agree completely. I remember well the time I tried to take Wellbutrin. I had major jerking, along with twitching in my abdomen and arms. I've always felt there were going to be long term implications for me taking SSRI's and the like for such a long time. In my mind I've always thought I would rather live with neurological side effects than a mind that went crazy, literally, with anxiety. I seriously think my brain has some chemical issues, because I've never been able to function for more than a year at a time without treating the anxiety monster. No amount of therapy, meditation, eating right, massage, etc. etc. etc. was able to tame the beast for any length of time. What a mess, stuck between a rock and a hard place. :crying:
 
This crazy bout in August started two days after I took my first Cymbalta. Freaked me out so bad I called the doctor and told her I wasn't taking it anymore. Switched to Zoloft but the twitching has never stopped, though it is only about 10% of what it was five months ago. There was so much going on in my life at that point I have no earthly idea which event caused it, if any of them were the cause at all. Frustrates me the more I think about it. :mad:
 
"My" doc saad that people that have somatisation issues anyway (e.g. shown in IBS or other symptoms) must be very dareful with any kind of drug especially antidepressants, as they can cause much more side effects that in "normal healthy" people.
 
I was on no such medication when my twitching started, however I do believe I see an increase in some of my sypmtoms when I take something with SSRI effects.
 
No, he meant people without somatisation. There are people that "just" suffer from anxiety or depression. But others get really strong physical stuff (like IBS) and those should be careful. Well, I was out on SSRIs and I am not too sure what it did. First I felt, then I felt as bad as before the SSRIs ant then I got better. Now I am off and even feel better than with SSRIs. Hmm, dunno what to think.But my anxiety passed rather quickly, so they might have helped me here.
 

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