To my readers:
I thought I might give a little bit of help to those struggling with side-effects.
Some of my strategies:
For-
1. Fidgetting; I found that posture while sitting can help you from
feeling unsettled. Put your feet square on the floor,
about even with your hips. Then flex your toes and
at an angle (45*) lift your heels and rest them at the
angle against the chair legs.
( If you are not in a chair, lift your heels to where
it is comfortable and if you can still rest your
heels- do so )
I came across this posture when I was crocheting
and trying not to overwork my back.
2. Pacing: Sometimes pacing happens when your medicine dosage
is too high. But then, sometimes, it is akathesia that attacks
the tendons on the backs of your knee making the backs
of your knee uncomfortable- like your tendons are stiff
and only partway flexing.
Sometimes, having a banana or two a day is helpful with
the feeling of being restless without any relief from this
uncomfortable side-effect. I think that it is the potassium
that helps relieve your discomfort.
3. Rocking: For this, I found that the lower back and upper buttocks
are tense and massage helps with this, but once a month
may be too little help for this, because the symptoms
usually come back up in a week. So, if you can afford it,
( talk to your doctor first ), but if you can afford it I would
recommend massage on a weekly basis.
4. Tremors: Sorry, for this I can only urge you to talk to your doctor
and suggest switching to a different medicine. But, it
helps if you already have a new medicine in mind.
5. Blurry Vision: Consult with your eye doctor.
6. Trouble Sleeping/Sleeping too much: Consult with both of your
doctors. Psychiatrist/Primary Care Physician
I hope some of these are helpful. Remember the resources at the side of
this page and also the helpful links that can be found in my
article: Vocabulary ABC's in mental health circles, posted
in July 2014.
I thought I might give a little bit of help to those struggling with side-effects.
Some of my strategies:
For-
1. Fidgetting; I found that posture while sitting can help you from
feeling unsettled. Put your feet square on the floor,
about even with your hips. Then flex your toes and
at an angle (45*) lift your heels and rest them at the
angle against the chair legs.
( If you are not in a chair, lift your heels to where
it is comfortable and if you can still rest your
heels- do so )
I came across this posture when I was crocheting
and trying not to overwork my back.
2. Pacing: Sometimes pacing happens when your medicine dosage
is too high. But then, sometimes, it is akathesia that attacks
the tendons on the backs of your knee making the backs
of your knee uncomfortable- like your tendons are stiff
and only partway flexing.
Sometimes, having a banana or two a day is helpful with
the feeling of being restless without any relief from this
uncomfortable side-effect. I think that it is the potassium
that helps relieve your discomfort.
3. Rocking: For this, I found that the lower back and upper buttocks
are tense and massage helps with this, but once a month
may be too little help for this, because the symptoms
usually come back up in a week. So, if you can afford it,
( talk to your doctor first ), but if you can afford it I would
recommend massage on a weekly basis.
4. Tremors: Sorry, for this I can only urge you to talk to your doctor
and suggest switching to a different medicine. But, it
helps if you already have a new medicine in mind.
5. Blurry Vision: Consult with your eye doctor.
6. Trouble Sleeping/Sleeping too much: Consult with both of your
doctors. Psychiatrist/Primary Care Physician
I hope some of these are helpful. Remember the resources at the side of
this page and also the helpful links that can be found in my
article: Vocabulary ABC's in mental health circles, posted
in July 2014.