Anti-Depressants & Dystonia


Posted by Terri Vincent ® , Aug 02,2001,11:06   Archive
I read the Aug. 2 chat session which stated “the reason anti-depressants are sometimes withheld, is because the chemicals affected in the brain can cause dystonia to worsen.”

One month ago I went off (after 2 weeks) the anti-depressant, Wellbutrin. It gave me uncontrollable muscle spasms in my legs that put me in the hospital requiring shots of muscle relaxant.

One month later I'm still having muscle “tremor” in my legs and I’ve had to take Lorezepam, the muscle relaxant the hospital sent me home with, 3 times. (I’ve never before had a problem with any type of muscle spasm/tremor – just SD.)

My questions are these:

1) Is Wellbutrin still in my system and these are just the residual effects?

2) Did Wellbutrin mess up my brain chemistry so badly I now have dystonia (besides SD) in other parts of my body?

3) What kind of doctor can help me? (My current doctor knows nothing about dystonia and has referred me to a psychiatrist.)

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Terri




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Re: Anti-Depressants & Dystonia

Re : Anti-Depressants & Dystonia --- Terri Vincent
Posted by Jan Joiner ® , Aug 02,2001,22:18 Top of Thread Archive
Hi Terri,

I don't know if you are familiar with this website, but I thought I'd give it to you just the same. I hope this helps some. It is a list of the drugs that can and does cause SD.

www.dystonia-support.org

Regards, Jan




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Re: Anti-Depressants & Dystonia

Re : Anti-Depressants & Dystonia --- Terri Vincent
Posted by Narelle Lehane ® , Aug 03,2001,02:38 Top of Thread Archive
Dear terri,
It sounds like you had a reaction to the anti-depressant called tardive Dyskinesia (don't know about the spelling there), some anti-dperessant and other meds for mental illness can cause this in some people. it is a movement problem but is not dystonia. The drug they give to Parkinsons patients - L-Dopa (which effects dopamine levels in the brain - i don't know if that's the receptor targeted by Wellbutrin??) - often get this syndrome because of their medication, the shaking in a Parkinson's patient is often the side-effect of the drug that allows them to move (remember the movie Awakenings?).
Anyway, I was on several anti-depressants after getting post-natal depression and funnily enough they made my voice better (these were SSRIs - effecting seratonin, which can also affect movement).
A psychiatrist would be your best bet at this point as they are ultra familiar with the pharmacology of these drugs and can work out what happenend and how to treat it - they will probably refer you to a neurologist as well for tests. Seeing a shrink doesn't necessarily mean you need a shrink, just some advice on the meds you are taking from an expert in the field. I doubt very much that the tremors are dystonic in nature, I know quite a few people who have experienced this after taking P-meds and they are not dytonics and no longer have the problem - it is fixable. The Wellbutrin may have a long half life and still be in your system, some drugs of this type do - but your p-doc is the one to talk to about that.
Good luck and I hope this helped some.
Narelle



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Re: Anti-Depressants & Dystonia

Re : Anti-Depressants & Dystonia --- Terri Vincent
Posted by Terri Vincent ® , Aug 08,2001,14:53 Top of Thread Archive
Jan/Narelle:

Thank you both for the information on this. I really appreciate it. The list looks familiar because I looked at it before going on Anti-depressant #1 (which wasn't on it). Considering my mental state after having #1 put me into the hospital, I unfortunately didn't refer back to the list before I went on #2 - Wellbutrin (which was on the list). Oh well, guess I have to take responsibility for this and just hope and pray this is a temporary condition. The psychiatrist I called said I needed a full physical from the regular doctor (after the doctor referred me to the psychiatrist). I think I'm falling through the cracks of the medical system. I decided on my own to call a neurologist and his first appointment is December 4. This is all turning into a bad nightmare. Wish me luck and thanks again for your help.

Terri




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Re: Anti-Depressants & Dystonia

Re : Anti-Depressants & Dystonia --- Terri Vincent
Posted by Jo Ann Flynn ® , Aug 09,2001,22:15 Top of Thread Archive
Hi Terri!

You need to see a Movement Disorder Specialist.....they are Neurologists that specialize in movement disorders.

Good luck!

Jo Ann




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