MOVEMENT DISORDERS

[opus88]

I have been on neurontin for a number of years recently increased from 1800mg to 2700mg for sciatica and non diabetic neuropathy with legs.
I am also on 150mg of lamictal and have been for over 2 years.
My question is for probably 2 or more years I have periodic full or partial body twitch or jerk, hard to discribe.
It was always just periodic and I just never gave it much of a thought however they have been happening more and more often. Usually always when I am relaxed and almost falling into sleep.
tonight I was laying there in this semi sleep mode and I counted it happening 4 times within an hour. first full body, than rt foot, than left shoulder/arm, than neck....
Now I beginning to get concerned.
Can this be due to one of these medications?
I done some reading on side effects and can't find that mentioned for either.

[opus88]

yes both symptom and Lamictal both within the same time frame thats why I'm kind of leaning towards it being the culprit???
I have never tried Lyrica and now my doctors want me too because I am on such a high dose of neurontin, neurontin has been a savior for me for at least 7 years, starting with just 600mg than its gone up from there, but it sure did and still does do wonders for the sciatica....not working so good on the neuropathy pain in the lower limbs tho and neither is the oxycontin...I just had an increase in both these meds and have moderate improvement in the limbs...
thats for the tip abt rls, I will check out the website, however I am very skeptical abt this being the cause.
Knowing my condition I suspect neuromuscular as you mention or medication..
Until I see the prescribing doctor for that med(mid Jan./10)..I am going to start lowering the dose on my own and see if that makes a difference..
you take care and thanks for the reply

[ggreg]

Yes, I've sort of accepted how I am.  But the drugs are what keep my symptoms at bay.  I did want to add that since you started taking the Lamictal 2 years ago, which your more abnormal muscle jerks began around 2 years ago, that that drug might need a change.  Now, for people who do have RLS, opiates are the number one best relief for it, so since you already take that, could be if it was increased a little, might help.  

But the Neurontin stuff, gosh, while it takes away my lower back pain, I'm not too fond of it, but gotta take it or can't hardly get out of bed from the pain...however, I used to take Lyrica, a cousin to Neurontin with less side effects, I DID like that stuff, but it was SO expensive that I had to switch to Neurontin.  One thing I also take a rather involved multivitamin and mineral tablet, I break it in half (supplements can cause constipation), and take it once or twice a week, and that seems to help how I feel.  But I will emphasize again that I do think quality of sleep affects my neuromuscular problems from day to day, and I just don't have a lot of control over that.  

There are forums online for RLS people, like rls.org, you could visit them or any of several other ones out there, just do a forum search and read what others have said, or maybe even join and get some more support for how your body feels, even tho that is not your diagnosis, but the RLS people all talk about this muscle jerking situation.

[opus88]

thank you so much for the reply...yes I do have a lower back issue and neuropathy as a symptom, and I too take opiates...I have never had any RLS but otherwise all you have said is the same as I'm feeling...the full body jerks and 'starts' that will wake me during the night, could be undiagnosed RLS??
so yes it could well be a neurotransmitter problem and possibly the jerks or twitches or whatever are just becoming more prominent because my back condition maybe becoming worse.....therefore not a medication side effect. I was hoping it was than I could lower or discontinue whichever is the culprit and have those annoying issues disappear...may not be so lucky!
I have 3 different doctors prescribing me my cocktail of meds. a psychiatrist, an internist and a PMP, I will need to talk to each one abt this.....of course they all have separate opinions...I would like to see a neuro as well but too many already to deal with...see what the new year brings.
thx for telling me abt your symptoms, its nice just to know there are others and I'm not just imagining things

[ggreg]

I'm not too sure that it's the medications doing this to you, rather it's the nature of neuromuscular problems.  I can only relate to you my experiences to sort through what might be going on, so in the end you'll need a neuro doc to work through this with you.

I take Neurontin and an opiate for some neuropathy in my legs and restless legs syndrome, which both came from an old back injury.  Before my RLS was treated properly, I used to get those same jerks, often when I was about to sleep, or sometimes even when I was fully awake.  I finally decided it was because of the neuromuscular problems I have, they kind of pool up and then burst through, and/or because of lack of good sleep.  Some RLS people not only have legs seizing up, but also can get partial or full-body jerks, so I suppose that supports the theory that neuromuscular problems can cause your symptom sometimes.  But also, with the Neurontin, many times when I am in a semi-sleep state, I'll wake up with a start, as if my body is so tired that it's grabbing hold of that sleep a little too strongly.

Both drugs you're taking have the side effect of agitation, so I also think that might be translated into that jerking around, I don't know.  Also, my sleep patterns are not always reliable, maybe because I get sleepy from Neurontin by late afternoon, so if I get in a nap, it might prevent a long night's sleep.  I'm no sleep specialist, of course.  But could be in general the drugs, the neuropathy, and perhaps disturbed sleep from time to time, all may conspire to give you that body twitching thing.

I suppose there's also a good possibility that your neuromuscular problems, with the leg neuropathy and sciatica you have, indicate some problems with your back, which is where all my problems began.  So, maybe the nerves that come out of your spine are randomly firing off, could be a scan will yield clues.  For me, I noticed it most of all when I had not yet gotten treatment for my restless legs, that's when it did more precisely what you're describing.  Could be your medicines might need changing, adjusting, or added to, and in any case, obviously a neuro doc ought to review with you these symptoms you're having, to figure out what's going on, to make sure your neuropathy isn't getting worse.