Juniper29 Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 I've suddenly developed some kind of tremor where my head involuntarily shakes/wobbles. My husband sees it so it's not in my imagination. I will obviously ask my pdoc about it, but I'm curious if this is more likely to be the abilify or the gabapentin? I'm on pretty low doses of both ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
argh Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 Abilify is more likely. Antipsychotics are known for movement disorders, even the atypicals. fwiw, I’m also on a low dose of gabapentin and my head doesn’t twitch or shake. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juniper29 Posted June 17, 2018 Author Share Posted June 17, 2018 Abilify was my first guess. I had a hand tremor when I started it but that went away. This oneis really uncomfortable and annoying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 How long have you been taking Abilify? Before Abilify did you take any other AP's or AAP's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juniper29 Posted June 17, 2018 Author Share Posted June 17, 2018 36 minutes ago, jt07 said: How long have you been taking Abilify? Before Abilify did you take any other AP's or AAP's? 8-9 months, I think. And no, I only took Seroquel very briefly (a couple nights). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 It could be the Abilify, but I don't know. You are on a very low dose and have not even been on it all that long. That doesn't preclude movement disorders, but I don't think they are very likely. Now if it is just a tremor then, yes, Abilify can cause it (it's on the list of side effects in the PI, I think) but it is nothing to worry about. It is not permanent and goes away whenever you would stop the Abilify. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RisingRayne Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 I would immediately get in touch with your doctor. It could an early symptom of tardive dyskinesia which is serious (from abilify). I dont want to scare you, but I want to protect you. Call them before you take you next dose please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notloki Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Shaking of the head sounds like EPS not TD. TD starts with the face, lips, and mouth and especially the tongue. Anyway the likelihood for TD in Abilify is almost nil while EPS is common. I have a hand tremor from Abilify which is a part of EPS. Medication makes it go away. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RisingRayne Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 On 6/17/2018 at 8:55 AM, notloki said: Shaking of the head sounds like EPS not TD. TD starts with the face, lips, and mouth and especially the tongue. Anyway the likelihood for TD in Abilify is almost nil while EPS is common. I have a hand tremor from Abilify which is a part of EPS. Medication makes it go away. It is not something you mess with. No offense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikl_pls Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 This sounds like Abilify could be the cause. I believe propranolol (Inderal) is used to treat head tremors more often, if not that, then probably benztropine (Cogentin) or trihexyphenidyl (Artane) since it would be considered an extrapyramidal side effect. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notloki Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 13 hours ago, RisingRayne said: It is not something you mess with. No offense. Yes, I should know, as I have had a pseudo-parkinsonian tremor (EPS side effect) and have for years treated it with propranolol successfully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellifluous Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 i, too, vote for it being the abilify. i would check in with psychiatrist and then neurologist as needed ASAP. it might be that you need to add something for EPS, like propranolol, cogentin, artane, or even benedryl. it might also be the case that abilify doesn't suit you and something like geodon or latuda would be better and not cause the side effects. though, i would disagree with the above poster. yes, call ASAP. but don't hold off on taking your meds before doing so. if you take it in the morning, take your stuff and then try to get in with your doctor as quickly as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RisingRayne Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 3 hours ago, mellifluous said: i, too, vote for it being the abilify. i would check in with psychiatrist and then neurologist as needed ASAP. it might be that you need to add something for EPS, like propranolol, cogentin, artane, or even benedryl. it might also be the case that abilify doesn't suit you and something like geodon or latuda would be better and not cause the side effects. though, i would disagree with the above poster. yes, call ASAP. but don't hold off on taking your meds before doing so. if you take it in the morning, take your stuff and then try to get in with your doctor as quickly as possible. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juniper29 Posted June 19, 2018 Author Share Posted June 19, 2018 Thanks everyone. I did talk to my pdoc and she said for now to keep taking the abilify but see if benedryl helps. It's actually been much better the last two days. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellifluous Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 glad you checked in with your psychiatrist and i hope the benedryl quells the shaking. x 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
argh Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 1 hour ago, Juniper29 said: Thanks everyone. I did talk to my pdoc and she said for now to keep taking the abilify but see if benedryl helps. It's actually been much better the last two days. Benadryl? For the anticholinergic effect? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 27 minutes ago, argh said: Benadryl? For the anticholinergic effect? Yeah it can help with EPS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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