Could my arm shaking, waking me up at night be caused by tardive dyskinesia

[[Br...]]

I took Lorazepam for one month and 2 months into cold turkey, is the cause of my arm shaking and waking me up at night part of withdrawal or does Lorazepam cause tardive dyskinesia? Please say no - I am so scared!

[[bl...]]

Have you discussed TD with a doctor? It's a very specific neurological issue and pretty unmistakeable. Why are you concerned that you are having TD? As you know, this site cannot diagnose people online.

 

The only medicine which I am aware of which causes TD are antipsychotics like Risperdal, Haldol, Thorazine, and so forth.

 

If you are asking whether your arm shaking and waking you up in the night could be a symptom of Lorazepam withdrawal, sure. Twitching is not uncommon in benzo w/d.

[[Br...]]

I asked because I started to get muscle twitches on my chin and I have my arm vibrating/twitching/etc. So, it is out of body scary for someone who never did a drug in their life and only took this med to help me sleep after my mother's passing.

[[re...]]

Hi Brooke,

I responded to another post of yours but I wanted to reassure you again that you're not alone. I had involuntary movements as well and they seemed exactly like td. I scared the hell out of myself thinking I had td. My movements were in my tongue, neck and hands mainly and they were pretty dramatic. Like you, I was absolutely terrified. I've been off the drugs for a year and several months now, and the movements have been gone for a long time. I really don't think this will be permanent for you. It did take months for them to go away, but I haven't had them for months now and I have little fear they'll return (it's always something on the back of my mind, but logically I know they're gone for good). I had also never taken any drugs and the whole process was very terrifying. I'd recommend not researching td. I did, and it only scared me more. I really think things will return to normal for you. I do know when I scared myself researching it, they would seem worse. You're not doing this to yourself by any means, but I do think this is a situation where less research is better. It will pass.

[[Br...]]

Thank you for your email. The internet can be a dangerous thing. I am 44 years old and my mother passed away in November. She had Parkinison's and she choose to end her life by not eating. It took nine weeks and it took a toll on me. Everything that I am experiencing freaks me out because I think I have it. I have seen two neuro's and they said I don't, but it doesn't mean it doesn't scare me. So, how long did you involuntary movements last? I have them in my toes, too. I feel my arm throughout the day, but mostly at night when I am laying on my side or woken-up by it. Similar to you?

[[re...]]

I'm so sorry about your mom. That must have been incredibly difficult for you. Do you have family that you can talk with?

 

I didn't have the movements in my toes, but definitely in my hands, then just my fingers, then they left. I also had them in my mouth and tongue and my neck would cause my head to wobble back and forth, and by wobble I mean like the most extreme form of a bobble head (maybe someday I'll be able to laugh at myself, but not yet ).

 

I also had them the worst when I first woke up. At it's worst it was almost all the time though. I saw gradual improvement over several months. Then I only had it on a rare occasion, usually right when I woke up. Now it's gone. On a very, very rare occasion I notice my hand forms a fist involuntarily as a wake up, but that's it, and it almost never happens. It's enough to still scare me though. It's hard to say the exact timeline for recovery though.

 

Have you noticed any improvement? Stress definitely doesn't help so try to stay calm about it (although this isn't psychological). If the doctors said you don't have parkinsons, then I would try to put that out of your mind. Try to focus on other things. Hard I know.

[[Br...]]

Thank you for your email. I am trying to stay stress free - it is hard when you have twins. I have started to do needlepoint even though I haven't done it before. That is helping, but I keep the computer near me to read response. My family is outside playing and I feel so sad and stuck looking inward as my life passes me by. When do you first start to feel better - 3, 6, 9 or 12? Were you a short term user or long term user?

[Guest [de...]]

No its not TD.

 

TD is nearly always a result of chronic use of dopamine blocking antipsychotics such as Haldol. You obviously have health anxiety if you are using Dr. Google to find esoteric (and horrible) explanations for common symptoms. Health anxiety is extremely common and can ruin a person's life with the what ifs. Please fight that thought pattern.

 

DS

[[Br...]]

Thank you. I am just scared! I didn't think I would ever go through something like this - I am a mother with twins and never did a drug in my life. I took it on my mother's passing and I am horrified about my life right now.

[Guest [de...]]

Losing a parent can be a horrible trauma which can trigger a midlife "crisis". Make sure your kids don't see your anxiety. It is normal, even healthy, for them to see you mourn, and mourn with you. Mourning becomes pathologic when it negatively affects YOUR sense of self worth, safety or optimism about raising a happy healthy family.

[[Br...]]

I can't even cry - literally and physically. I have tried so hard. The emotion wells up in me, but I can't get the tears to well up enough to roll down my face. It is like I am broken up there and nothing can let the flood gates open.

[[pa...]]

Hi Brook, I m sorry for the loss of your mom.  I understand, my sister and I took care of our mom for three months until she passed.  Our other sister had twin girls age 7 at the time.  Brooke, I replied to one of your other posts.  I had exactly what you are having, I took the drug for a short time, more then you did.  These drugs crate havoc in a short time.  As I said in my other reply, everything left, it took time, but all left.  You will be fine, all of these sensations, as difficult as the are to deal with, the don,t cause any harm, other then alot of anxiety, as they are not normal to have.  Remember, it is all from the drug, they will all leave.  Pattylu