My husb has been on loxapine since 2/14/08...so about 6 mths...about 3 weeks ago he began a 'restlessness' that just doesn't stop. I let it go for a while -- checked for UTI (negative) and then told his neurologist about it...he said 'might be the loxapine' as it causes a condition known as akathisia. We decided to take him off the med. He was on it for "aggressive behavior" and they told me 'hang on to the med in case wse need it again"...we'll, he's been off the med since Thurs eve (only was taking 5mg 1x a day @ bed) and since, restlessness has continued, cold sweats during the day as he wanders over & over again through the house...i have tried tylenol, allergy med (he's had a runny nose off & on too), aleve...nothing seems to help him....The restlessness that we began with has seemed to escalate and I'm really worried about him. For the past 2 days I've taken his temp - only elevated slightly to 99.0; (by the way, under the tongue doesn't work well for Alz patients & I bought an "in the ear" thermometer today); bloodpressure is up just a tad, but nothing significant...just this restlessness and cold sweats...i've googled the 'withdrawal from loxapine' and nothing major...just wondering if anyone else has taken their LO off of an anti-psychotic and if they have experienced anything like this...he is thirsty alot, today urine seems to be less, no "significant" bowel mvmt since Friday, appetite very good--in fact, today asked for lunch, which he hasn't done in months...just wondering if anyone else can lend some info here. Thanks!
try pushing lots of fluids, maybe hes dehydrated some from the meds. plus if the meds are still in his system it will help flush them out faster. plus some of us here are esp careful giving over the counter stuff like advil/tylenol/sinus meds// i know i cant give even stuff to my DH that i take on a daily basis for headache or so as it makes him crawl the walls. esp sinus meds. he was on zyrtec and it made him super loony so i dont give him anything except some vicks or a dehumidifyer at sleeptime. some meds require you to wean off of them i think your dr would know if he needed to do that more slowly? read the inserts from the pharmacy when you get your meds. it has all the info that can explain the sideeffects and whatifs..you said you checked for uti, could be the meds or another area of infection or he may just need to get thru the meds out of system. divvi
Thanks, Joan & Divvi -- Today he seems better -- fluids passing better, did have bowel mvmt 9:15am today, just now started seeming "clammy and anxious"...now 2:05pm...I will see how tonite goes & if not any better, will get w/neurologist tomorrow. Thanks again y'all!!
I was just thinking the same thing bluedaze. My lil niece has juvenile diabetes. She doesn’t get anxious… But she does get clammy and very thirsty, if she is too high or too low. I would recommend the same as Joan, his neurologist would want to know about these changes. where he had these symptoms before going off the meds, it could be something is truly wrong. I know the confusion, restlessness can be “normal” but the cold sweats, and clammy feeling…. could be signs of many other illness’ Best of luck! Nikki
I wanted to update y'all on our "withdrawal from anti-psychotic med" and "restlessness" issues...after days of trying different things, finally spoke to both Neurologist & PCP today...neurologist prescribed low low dose (.5 mg) of ativan for today & we are to see the PCP tomorrow for labs & office visit...looking for something other than Alzheimer's issues. Thanks for all your suggestions of what to do/check. The ativan @ 3:10pm today gave him nearly "immediate" relief and around 9tonite, he was a little 'anxious' again...now he's settled down and fixin to head to bed. Both of us will be!! I am so tired from last night's up & down...today I told several people I felt like "little red-riding-hood" after jumping from bed to bed last nite trying to get "some rest"!! My sister sweetly let me know I had my fictional characters messed up & that it was "goldielocks" who went bed-hopping...one more thing I'm messed up with after 4+ years of dealing with this...oh well, hoping tomorrow & the days ahead are better!! Thanks again, y'all!! Debbie