PortugueseSea Posted November 10, 2022 Share Posted November 10, 2022 I talked with Dr. Shipko over the phone regarding my metoclopramide induced akathisia. He recommended... time. We argued that it was well I was on Remeron but should not stay on for too long, he advised rapid discontinuation or, if my condition rapidly deteriorated, starting a taper. Beyond that he recommended that I could take Klonopin to get through the unbearable days and, if I was desperate, be put on Klonopin which would eventually be tapered off. He also mentioned, and he does it again on the video I posted, that he knew nobody who hadn't recovered almost fully of akathisia after 6 to 7 years. I am currently very slowly stabilizing and anxious to start my remeron taper. As per the advice of this forum, I have moved part of my dose to the morning and am doing a big better. Slow wins the race I guess... 1 December 2021 - Metoclopramide started. Akathisia symptoms start; Metoclopramide gets changed to PRN, taken 5mg, first every other day, then once every 3 days. March 2022 - Akathisia diagnosed; Metoclopramide stopped; started Propranolol 10mg x twice a day to no effect, Biperiden PRN (0.5mg to 1mg). April 2022 - Started Tandospirone 30mg (10mg 3x day), Quetiapine 25mg (only taken once, immediate adr). Mirtazapine 7.5mg, 10 day window followed. Discontinued Propranolol. May 2022 - Akathisia symptoms continue, Mirtazapine upped to 15mg. 7 day window followed. Tandospirone cut to 2x 10mg. Low dose Depakote for the month; 100 to 200 to 100 to 0. Mirtazapine cut back to 11.75mg (3/4 of a 15mg pill).June 2022 - Mirtazapine updose to 15mg. Tandospirone and Biperiden discontinued. Klonopin started PRN (0.5mg). September 2022 - Akathisia slowly starts improving, WD/ADR normal sets in in mid September. Hold for 4 months.December 2022 - Mirtazapine taper started;March 2023 - Off mirtazapine; no Klonopin for 5 months either! Intro thread: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/27095-portuguesesea-metoclopramide-akathisia-and-mirtazapine/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tranqdart Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 On 7/30/2011 at 11:10 AM, Altostrata said: Dr. Stuart Shipko (see http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/677-communications-with-dr-stuart-shipko/page__p__6160__hl__shipko__fromsearch__1#entry6160) will diagnose it for insurance purposes but he doesn't know how to treat it. He is in Southern California. I found Dr Shipko on YouTube when WD symptoms first started to scare me. He was kind enough to get on the phone with me, but could not accept me as a patient. He said people will disable themselves to get off these drugs - I could stick it out or go back on. "Go back on and try to get off it again?" I asked. He said "Or just stay on it." Maybe taking my age (63) and long usage history (20+ years) into account. Really, he was being generous to make any time for me, but I thought SA should know this is the advice I got. Tranq Dart Mary 1998: 20 mg fluoxetine for a few months; quit cold turkey 2002-2015: 10 mg escitalopram for 13 years; quit cold turkey (disastrously) 2016-2021: 10 mg escitalopram for 6 years after a break of several months; tapered 254 days starting Nov 30 2021, last dose Aug 9 2022; withdrawal symptoms started in Sept 2022. suppl: Morning: Fish oil, magnesium, b6, b12, calcium citrate, C, D3, valerian Evening: magnesium and topical melatonin for sleep Mostly whole food 2/5/23: quit alcohol 3/13/23: quit coffee and tea but not chocolate or sugar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator manymoretodays Posted March 13 Moderator Share Posted March 13 Thanks for sharing your communications with Dr. Shipko @Tranqdart I just moved you into the topic about those communications. I don't think he is taking on any withdrawal patients, and may actually be retired or semi-retired. Some of the posts here are hopeful above...... Best. L, P, H, and G, mmt 2022 May- continuing with limited activity on site, just something I need to do right now Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988. In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm. Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time). 5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014) 12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs. My last psycho med ever! Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to 2016 Dec 16, medication free!! Longer signature post here, with current supplements. Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016. And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed. Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022. Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜 None of my posts are intended as medical advice. Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider. My success story: Blue skies ahead, clear sailing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Altostrata Posted March 13 Administrator Share Posted March 13 9 hours ago, Tranqdart said: Really, he was being generous to make any time for me, but I thought SA should know this is the advice I got. Yes, we know. In Dr. Shipko's opinion, the risk of serious post-discontinuation symptoms is so great that he recommends people simply stay on the drugs if they're not otherwise troublesome. Your call whether this suits you. We have people here who have successfully quit. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tranqdart Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 14 hours ago, Altostrata said: Yes, we know. In Dr. Shipko's opinion, the risk of serious post-discontinuation symptoms is so great that he recommends people simply stay on the drugs if they're not otherwise troublesome. Your call whether this suits you. We have people here who have successfully quit. I'm suffering terribly but also noticing some benefits of quitting Lex. Namely, I'm more inclined to face my problems and less lackadaisical, for lack of a better word. When WD symptoms got bad a month after my last 0.25mg dose, I promised myself I could go back on if I wasn't feeling better by this or that date. Now though, I'm more committed to living without this filthy poison coloring my experience. Thank you so much for all the support and encouragement. 1 Tranq Dart Mary 1998: 20 mg fluoxetine for a few months; quit cold turkey 2002-2015: 10 mg escitalopram for 13 years; quit cold turkey (disastrously) 2016-2021: 10 mg escitalopram for 6 years after a break of several months; tapered 254 days starting Nov 30 2021, last dose Aug 9 2022; withdrawal symptoms started in Sept 2022. suppl: Morning: Fish oil, magnesium, b6, b12, calcium citrate, C, D3, valerian Evening: magnesium and topical melatonin for sleep Mostly whole food 2/5/23: quit alcohol 3/13/23: quit coffee and tea but not chocolate or sugar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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