Stopped Saphris due to TD - in a bad place, getting worse

[lanry78]

O.K. I stopped taking Saphris because about 6 weeks in this time I started developing a lot of facial ticks and involuntary muscle spasms. Leg twitches. Twitching all over the place. I know this is a serious side effect that only gets worse as time goes on. So I chose to nip it in the bud. 

 

I reduced to 5 mg for one week, then to 2.5 mg for another week. Then I stopped taking entirely and started with my first low dose of Seroquel eliminating the Saphris entirely last night. I took the Seroquel IR (satrting at 50mg) even though the Seroquel ER caused increased paranoia before. I am afraid of increasing the dose due to the paradoxical side effects it has had in the past for me. 

 

I am in a really bad place right now. Saphris was the ONE medicatin I took in all the time that helped me, yet I know how serious TD can be. I also know that I feel lost without it. I have tried multiple AP, I think the only option really left for me to try are Latuda and Abilify. Latuda I have heard a lot about it wearing off after 18 hours and Abilify the medicaid card does not cover so I am screwed there. 

 

I feel empty, lost, anti social, disorganized thinking .. All the good stuff. I'm starting to think maybe these aren't mixed episodes, rather SZA - Either way, I dunno .. 

 

Has anyone ever had TD go away ? I highly doubt it from what I read on it, it only gets worse. I am just feeling lost and confused. That med helped so much but I don't want to have involuntary twitches the rest of my life either. 

 

[jt07]

Did a doctor tell you that you have TD? Usually TD involves gross muscle movements and not just twitching. I think you need to be evaluated by a doctor who is familiar with TD, either a psychiatrist or a neurologist. Many meds can cause twitching. In my case, carbamazepine causes a lot of twitching.

[lanry78]

No - I read more on Wikipdea about it after I started developing the twitches. 

 

I am currently on clonazepam which is one of the meds stated to reduce Td effects. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardive_dyskinesia

 

The biggest thing I experience is 6-7 second twitching of my left eye for no reason, and it happens multiple times within a minute or two. Then my inner thighs start twitching. It feels like invluntary muscle movements to me - which besides TD is not listed on PI sheet for Saphris I don't believe. 

Edited December 14, 2013 by lanry78

[jt07]

I think you need to see a doctor who is familiar with TD and stop trying to diagnose yourself off Wikipedia.

[netsavy006]

I suggest you see a health care professional to discuss your options and if it's TD.

[forgetmenot220]

I developed twitching/tremors from a couple meds and it was not TD. Definitely check with your doctor, Dr. Wikipedia is no good.

[mcjimjam]

I had twitches like you describe when I took Seroquel. I didn't take much notice of them. They stopped when I stopped the med. Even if you have TD, it may not be permanent. A lot of times it goes away. Don't panic. Talk to your doctor.

ETA: The movements in TD are generally rythmic, repetitive and constant, IIRC.

I'm just saying I think I've had the same kind of tics you had, and I've seen TD (my grandmother) and it's different.

I'm not trying to invalidate your experience I just think you've jumped to the worst possible conclusion, which is understandable, TD is scary.

Edited December 15, 2013 by mcjimjam

[lanry78]

Thank you everyone for the advice. I tend to jump to worst case scenarios especially when my meds aren't in gear. 

The muscle spasms and eye twitching really frieked me out

[jt07]

I can't diagnose you, hence my suggestion that you see a doctor familiar with TD, but it doesn't sound like TD to me. And true TD is relatively rare. I really don't think that you should be worrying so much about it.

[Wonderful.Cheese]

I have eye twitches that are VERY brief like you do. I also sometimes get a little leg twitch or jerk. But it is not TD at all. I get AIMS testing done every three months to check for it and I've never shown any signs of it. Have you done an AIMS test recently from your pdoc or pnurse? Who diagnosed the TD?

And I agree that wikipedia is the farthest thing from a good pdoc's advice. And self-diagnosing and taking yourself off meds is dangerous and irresponsible.

 

Did your pdoc diagnose the TD? (If it is in fact TD) jt07 is right that true TD is kinda rare.

 

And you shouldn't self diagnose yourself as SZA either. Only your pdoc can do that. You seem to say that a lot (that you have SZA instead of mixed episodes). Please stay off wikipedia and stop diagnosing yourself with things you don't really have. It's foolish and dangerous to do so.