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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Could this be ALS or overreacting?
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
Could this be ALS or overreacting?
by cramerb535, Oct 12, 2003 12:00AM
About two months ago I suffered from an extreme bout of anxiety due to fear over my health. An optometrist pointed out an enlarged pupil. As a result, I went through many tests to make sure it was benign including MRI, CT scan, and doctors visits. Fortunately, it was found to be benign, but even after the good news my anxiety continued and I continued to worry about my health. The big reason for this was constant muscle twitches I have been feeling ever since, so for about 2 months now. I am on 20mg of lexapro and see a therapist but this only really helps to keep me from feeling panicky. My question is if I should be concerned the twitching is ALS. I saw a neurologist at the CCF a few days ago and he did a thorough physical exam but never game me an EMG because I felt it was unnecessary. Is it common for a neurologist to be that confident to not even want to order tests? I am 24 years old and I do not feel any weakness in my muscles as I frequently lift wights. I am concerned again because the twitching has not subsided and since reading about ALS notice some pain in my left calf muscle that comes and goes. I do not know how to check to see if I have muscle atrophy. Would I be able to lift heavy wieghts if they were in atrophy?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS, Oct 13, 2003 12:00AM
ALS is extremely unusual in individuals your age. There is a condition referred to as benign fasciculation syndrome, which is not uncommon. It involves the presence of fasciculations which can come and go over time. The neurologists at CCF are very experienced, and if they feel that you do not need an EMG then I would trust them. It is possible that your anxiety is contributing to your condition. I would recommend you discuss this with a psychiatrist who can perhaps change your medication. With adequate treatment of your anxiety, these symptoms may disappear.
Member Comments (4)
by 123mom, Oct 15, 2003 12:00AM
I was just wondering if it was the Lexapro making you feel like that? If you read my post, I was questioning the medication; and have been very afraid to try it. I also have several medical problems, with an extreme high level of anxiety. I wish you luck and let me know how you make out. Donna
by raimondo, Nov 13, 2003 12:00AM
I read with interest your comment about your muscle twitching. I went through the exact same scenario as you did. I was started on Lexapro for anxiety. When my provider increased my dose to 20 mg about 2-3 weeks later I developed muscle twitching, particularly in my legs and myoclonus in my left thumb and great toe. I am a physician, not a neurologist, and was concerned about ALS also. I saw a friend of mine who was a neurologist who did an exam and an EMG at my bequest. It was normal. My analyst knew nothing of this as a side effect of the drug, but knowing the pharmacology of the drug, it made sense to me that Lexapro could do this. I did several medical literature searches and pulled up some sketchy support. I then did a general web search and found multiple incidences where SSRIs cause this symptom. I found it quite disturbing that these side effects are not well known among physicians, particularly neurologists and more importantly psychiatrists who prescribe these medications. So, I would not worry about having ALS. It is likely related to your Lexapro. I am not sure how long the effects take to wear off once the drug has stopped. I have been off for 6 weeks and most of the myoclonus has resolved, but the twitching had persisted. I found some information on the web that these may take months to go away. Hope this makes you feel a little better.
by tarzinski, Nov 14, 2003 12:00AM
wish you all were here and we would have a group hug. listen to what i say. all you people who are having als and ms symptoms better run or wheel yourself to the closet dr. to you that knows about lyme disease. good luck - you'll drive for miles because guess what? - dr's are too dumb in making the connection. my husband was told by two neuros that he had als - duh, he had lyme. you better look at the connection between als, ms and lyme disease. 60 people were told that they had als -- all tested postive for lyme by our lyme dr., that was just our dr. type in google search - als/lyme connection and see what you get. if my stupid family dr. back in 2000 would have known what a lyme bulls eye rash looked like, i wouldn't be in the hell i am right now, and my husband won't be crippled and in a wheelchair. two years of misdiagnoised lyme can do allot of damage. the alsa website does all that view it a grave dis-service. they state that other things need to be ruled out that can minick als, but they dont' say ****** PEOPLE GET A LYME TEST DONE NOW TO SAVE YOUR LIVES ******* NOT ALL LYME TESTS ARE ACCURATE AND YOU NEED TO HAVE THE CORRECT ONES DONE. We went to two neuro's that ALSA listed as ALS specialist, and both missed the lyme disease. both dr's. was asked directly to run the test, but just didn't do it for some reason. so email me if you want to know anything about lyme. so if your having muscle twitching, muscle wasting, drop foot, problems walking, stumbling, panic attacks, dizziness, irregular heartbeats, brain fog, problems all of a sudden with you eyes, hearing, floaters in your eyes that look like worms, headaches, upper body weakness, bells palsy, joint pains, muscle pains, a pain in the back of the neck (mine is always a little to the left ) your not crazy - you better think about lyme. my husband had 3 embedded ticks from 1991- 2002, but i never did. i got my bulls eye rash up at lake erie from deer fly bites in 2000. president bush signed public bill 107- 116 jan 10, 2002 - to get the cdc off their butts and get the public and the medical community educated of lyme disease. well guess what - no one still knows anything about the 2nd fastest growing infectious disease in our country - 2nd only to HIV. Seems like no one cares. our insurance company fortis health - milwaukee, WI - will not pay for my husbands antiboitics stating that treating late stage lyme with anitbotics is experimential and nonconclusive. bull **** - it just costs over 200.00 per day for this anitbotic and they don't want to let go of the money. als/lyme - yeah how much money is rasied every year for als research... can you guess how many trillons of dollars - every year - no cure - people die- do the widows, and children get the money ????? so think about it, you can donate blood and not know that you have lyme disease - they don't test donor blood for it - and guess what, you just passed it on. may 2002 - big news - minocyline slows down and or stops the progession of als symptoms in lab mice with als. this is an antiboitic -slows down als. i asked both of the neuro's that told my husband that he had als - please can we start with the abx that helps als ???? both said NO, it's not on the FDA approved protocol in treating als. guess what ???? you can take the stuff for years if you have pimples on your face, but you can't take it for als that will kill you in 3-5 years. something is wrong with all of this people. why is the government and the medical community trying to hide lyme disease ?????????????