jerky movements

[cathycooley]

hi everybody i hope u r all very well,sorry i havent posted in a while ive ust been feeling awful.well as most of u know i have health anxiety and also suffer panic attacks,the only meds im on and have evr taken was and is diazepam 2 mg 1 a day which is the lowest dose i can get down to.ive  recently started  to have horrible shkes in y head where it just goes all shaky,i can stop it when i turn my head another position,wierd i know,also my main worry now is that my fingers maybe one or more have started to jerk also my legs or my arms and shuolders.i did mention this to my gp today but he put it down to me being chronic anxiety.im at my wits end now with this today as i keep thinking maybe im gonna have some sort of seizure,also my whole body like my muscles keep tensing so hard that i feel like  my body is gonna freeze or go hard.my head is sooooo extremly tight like its gonna explode.im so sorry to write so much but this forum seems to be the only place were i can be taken seriously.im so annoyed with myself that at work last week my whole head and hands started to shake i had to leave work,now im on the sick.
could it be the diazepam doing this to me?i have been on them now over 2 yrs,i would be very much grateful if anyone has some good advice for me to share with or maybe simuler symptoms.IS THIS ANXIETY JUST EATING AT ME NOW?

thanks to all in advance
takecare
x

[abby10]

Yes you could be experiencing withdrawals from valium. The w/d's mimic panic attacks. I have come off from much, higher doses and after a year have "tight head" and migranes. My body tremmors and shakes. I had a seizure and then seizure like activity for 8 months. Take heart the doses I was on were extremely high, you are on a very, very small dose. Valium is only 1/20 the potiency of Xanax. Just tapper off. A good site is benzo.uk.org. I wish my doctor had only given me valium.
goog luck

[Anashnh]

Hey, i was just about to post a bulletin about this same problem, but then  i read your problem. im having this too...and im a teenage male whos been diagnosed with anxiety. i dont take any medication. i try to cope with my stress and eat right..so far its been working by keeping me away from having another panic attack, but recently ive been getting jerky movements...and it feels like im about to have a seizure! i hate this....

[cj29]

I know the fear of taking an SSRI like Cipralex.  I was intitially VEHEMENTLY agains any medications because I was also scared of the side effects.  I fought with my therapist saying that I did not want to touch them with a ten foot poll, but after awhile I capitulated and long term it was a good decision for me.  In my opinion, many people are scared to take these because of the horror stories they read online...but for every horror story, there are literally thousands of good stories that go unheard.  I honestly get more side effects from taking an over the counter medication like Claritan than I do from an SSRI.  But, it is a personal choice, and whatever choice you decide, we support you 100%

[monkeybishop123]

Hey there cathy,

I am suffering just like you, I have this awfull health anxiety and i get panic attacks, i had to leave my job because i just couldnt cope. I get those jerks too, usually my legs and arms, i also get weird feelings in my head, numbness, fear of dying, i get scared of going places just incase i freak out. Sounds stupid but it takes over my life and my mind. Send me an e-mail if you like, i would love to hear more about how all this started for you. Cant believe you've been on Diazipam for two years. I tried to take thaem and some beta blockers but they just made me crazy!
I see your from Ireland!! Im in Wales!!!
Take care

[cathycooley]

hi to both of you ,and i just wanted to tell you both that i have taken on board what you both have said to me in your recent replys.thanku so much its much appreciated.i also thought about the ssri and i have to be honest here ,my gp gave me ciprelax last yr and ever since they have just been sat in the cuppard.im just so terrified of meds incase the make me worse,its come tto the point that every medication the docs prescribe to me ,i read the side effects and thats it i never take em.i know its self inflicted but right now the anxiety is starting to hit its high peak again i dont know if its to do with the winter.however i have been doing well over a yr now and i dont wanna fall into a rut again,as ive 2 young kids to think of,im always snappy at them.

anyways il keep you guys posted and again thanks for replying.
takecare
x

[cj29]

Sorry to hear that you are still struggling, but remember there will be ups and downs with this.  I know the last thing you want to hear right now is patience; you have been dealing with this along time and you deserve a 'break."  Have you ever tried an SSRI?  As you know, I am a big proponent of them as long as they are combined with talk therapy.

Unfortunately, anxiety does take its toll on us both physically and mentally and can leave us feeling drained.  But, I have seen your previous posts and I know you are willing to work at this and confront it...which is EXTREMELY important in all of this.  I have had ups and downs with this, just like everyone here, so please do not feel like you are alone in this.  I agree that using this forum is a great place to come to those who can listen and understand.  Please keep us posted.

[goodeys]

Hi Cathy,

Sorry to hear that things have not improved that much for you.

I do not know whether Valium can cause these reactions or not but my guess would be no, your doctor would've told you it was the drug if that had been the case. Have you spoken to your doctor about changing your meds, Diazapam is not really for long term anxiety, it is only a short acting drug. Perhaps you should ask to go on a drug that isn;t a benzo, i'm surprised that your doctor has kept you on it for so long, I have to beg my doctor for them when I fly! As you know they are highly addictive and as you are so young I think that it would be beneficial to put you on a med that it meant for long term use and then just use the Valium when you have an actual panic attack.

Of course this is only an opinion but perhaps a chat with your doctor about your meds may prove to be useful to get a medical opinion.

I would listen to your doctor, I know that anxiety can cause spasms and jerking I think its from where you are so tense your muscles start to spasm.

Keep in touch
Sam