Fasciculations and stress/panic disorder

  Hi:
  I am 29.  I have panic disorder and have been under a lot of stress lately.  My doctor is treating me with Effexor, an antidepresant.  I have been taking it for 3.5 weeks.  I do think I am depressed.  I also think I am a little bit of a hypocondriac.
  I have been having fasciculations since I was a child.  They appear randomly in different locations on my body.  For the most part they are very minimimal and I think I learned to ignore them.  After I read about ALS, I started noticing more and more.  I guess I got scared of having them, so it may be psychological.  My question is, can stress cause or increase fasciculations?  Can the fasciculations be a side effect of Effexor?
  I have had weakness in my body in different locations and tremor.  But I attribute these to the side Effects of Effexor because they are listed.  The weakness comes and goes and it moves from legs to arms or to one side.
  I have noticed that I have one fasic that has become more permanent just above my left elbow.  I just contracts an relaxes once like every ten minutes or so.
  I have also noticed some strange sensations around my joints like if they are being tickled from the inside.
  Do I worry to much or should I seek a professional?
  Thanx!
  John
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Thanks for your question.  A medical literature survey over the last 15
years did not reveal any reports of Effexor-induced fasciculation in this
widely used medication.  Although fasciculations are present in ALS patients,
the fact that you had these symptoms since early age make it almost certain
that you have so-called benign fasciculations - this is a fairly common
occurrence.  ALS is unfortunately a rather rapidly progressive disease and
it is quite unlikely that you have this pathology.  The weakness associated
with ALS is progressive, and does not "come and go".
I hope this information is helpful.  Best of luck.
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.
Please consult your doctor regarding diagnostic and treatment options.