Chronic akathisia, and the possibility of acupuncture (w/response)

[Guest guest]

<<Hi,

I took Celexa twice, and reacted very badly to it the second time. My

reaction lasted for about a month and a half, over the course of which

the dose was increased from 5mg to 10mg and then finally to 20mg. I

tried to taper for a week, then had to admit myself to a psych. ward

after a doctor told me the tingling I was having in withdrawal was MS,

even when I mentioned my adverse reaction and withdrawal. I was

abruptly removed from the drug in the hospital, then put on Zyprexa,

which i weaned off of after 2 1/2 weeks. Then I developed akathisia.

I went back to the hospital, and was put back on the Zyprexa for a

month, before I basically fought my way out, and was given the

appropriate pharmaceuticals for akathisia. (I stopped the Zyprexa

cold turkey in the hospital).

My questions are:

Is there anyone out there who has found a natural remedy for chronic

akathisia (besides B6)? And does anyone have any experiences with

acupuncture and akathisia? >>

** Mucuna pruriens, one of the common Ayurvedice herbs, also known as velvet

bean or cowhage raises dopamine. A loss of dopamine is what causes akathisia

(and restless leg syndrome). Dopamine loss comes from taking certain drugs, and

especially from rapidly discontinuing one of these drugs. The dose on this runs

between 100 to 400 mg a day depending on the quality of the herb and the person.

Starting low at 100mg will give you the opportunity to find exactly the right

dose for yourself.

You said:

<<I went to an acupuncturist before my reaction, and it worked really

well for depression. After I developed akathisia i went for

acupuncture again, only it seemed to override my meds, and left me

fighting for my life every minute I was awake. Eventually I had to up

the dose of Propranolol I am taking. Right now I take Ativan, Valium

(5mg), and Propranolol (30mg). I have been tapering off of Ativan (I

used to take .5mg 3xdaily, then switched to .5mg 2x daily plus 5mg

Valium, then gradually reduced the Ativan--I am now taking about .25mg

plus 1/4 of another .25mg in the morning and afternoon). The plan is

to get off of it, then the Valium, then the Propranolol, to see if the

akathisia is still present. I try to do meditation most nights, and

self-hypnosis. But I really want to know if anyone has experienced

positive results from acupuncture for akathisia, and if so, where the

needles were placed.

Also, on a completely different topic, I read somewhere about someone

who had purchased a milligram scale to measure their dose reductions.

Might be worth a shot for people who have ample refills and can't get

liquid forms of their meds, or cannot be switched to different drugs

(as is done with benzos).>>

** The milligram scale is unnecessary (and costly). You can be just as

accurate with a liquid titration.

Why are you taking propanolol?

Regards,