Muscle twitching/ body jerking contractions.

[tedabell]

Hello I would like to know if certain herbs will help with this unexplained body twitching that I am experiencing because I am not sure if it's a side effect of the asthma medications that I was taking in the past.I was diagnosed with asthma 4 years ago and I discontinued the medication in 2008 because I felt that I didn't have asthma and wanted to see how I would feel not taking it. I never experienced this before and the neurologist doesn't know what is causing this twitching they say that it's benign because nothing was found in my tests. I had a cat scan done a MRI as well as a MRI of the spine blood work done for electrolytes and still nothing shows what's the cause. However I stopped taking asthma medication three years ago could this be a reason why I'm experiencing these twitches in my body parts. I have them in my arms, legs, calves, back, stomach, shoulder, buttocks, hands, toes, and face not all at once but different places at times and it comes and goes it just last a second it's like a jerking feeling and it can be seen under the skin when it happens. I wasn't experiencing the twitches while I was taking the asthma medication but I started feeling it after I discontinued. I have been experiencing it since August 2009.I had it ever since and still don't know what to do and what's the cause.I haven't used anything for it since I had it I just deal with it. The neurologist told me to try acupuncture or acupressure yoga or meditation it may help alleviate it but don't worry because it's benign and if there's any changes or if anything gets worse call and make an appointment. However do herbs such as hyoscyamus, Cina and Zinc help with these twitches because I read about these herbs and it mentioned that hyoscamus is an excellent herb to relieve, soothe, and calm the nervous system and helps with the twitches also other disorders like Tourette's Syndrome and Parkinson's Disease. I would like some advice about these muscle twitches I'm experiencing and how can they be alleviated from my life help please.

[ILADVOCATE]

   I would just add that it would be worthwhile to obtain a consultation with a    
neurologist who is a movement disorders specialist.  Some medications can cause long term movement disorders such as tardive dyskinesia and there is no specific clinical test for them and from my own experiences and that of others neurologists generally rely on direct observation and tests of movement imbalance. For more information google "Patient Education Tardive Dyskinesia" (note as the site itself says "some of these medications may be medically necessary") and there is a clinically detailed article on tardive dyskinesia on Emediicine that could be discussed with a neurologist. There are a number of options for treatment of tardive but it would depend if it was found.

[tedabell]

Thank you for your support.

[Monimacaroni]

Sorry, I have not heard of those herbs and haven't looked into any others :)

[tedabell]

Thanks for the feedback however have you ever heard of a homeopathic herb called hyoscyamus. It is used for muscle twitching I haven't been able to find it the health food stores don't carry it. But Cina and Chamomilla and other herbs like passifora and skullcap as well as valerian is supposed to be good for the nervous system and nervous twitching. I haven't tried any of them yet but it might be worth giving it a shot since the antidepressant citalopram that my neurologist prescribed for me didn't help with the twitching the herbs may help have you ever heard of these herbs that I mentioned or do you know any that helps with muscle twitching.

[Monimacaroni]

Well blood work for magnesium deficiency might not be accurate because blood levels are the last to fall. It is the levels outside of the blood that can affect you before magnesium problems are even detected in blood work from what I have read... But I am not an expert. I am simply a normal person who has spent a lot of time researching stuff for the symptoms I have put up with for way too long. I just want to go back to being a regular school principal who gets a tid bit of respect for what I really know :)

[tedabell]

I have been twitching for about two years now and I had blood work done as well as a cat scan and mri back in 2009 and every thing was fine. But I am still twitching their wasn't no vitamin deficiency. Is there anything else that could be causing this involuntary twitching anything like side effects of certain medications caffeine or even stress.

[Monimacaroni]

One thing that can cause muscle twitching is magnesium deficiency. Hope that helps :)

[tedabell]

Hi theasian can you get back with me asap.

[tedabell]

This is tedabell I sent you a post and I didn't get a reply to my question.

[tedabell]

Hi theasian it's been a while since we last talked I am still having these muscle twitches but I am doing some research about certain herbs to see what is effective. I read about valerian and skullcap together they help reduce muscle twitching and some others like hyoscayamus and a few others that I mentioned to you in my last post. How are you doing as far as your health and your muscle twitching have you gotten them under control. I started to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and less sweets to see how the twitching goes but it is pretty much the same it did decrease a little. However I was on antidepressants for the muscle twitching for about 4 months then I discontinued the medication because I felt that it wasn't working. I am not on any medication for the twiching. Prior I was taking vitamins magnesium and folic acid as well as vitamin B-12 but that didn't help at all for the twitching so I stopped taking the vitamins and I am still experiencing the twitching nothing more. How are you doing with your twitching.

[theasian]

I don't know if your diet can affect it. I do know that stress can make it 10 times, that's what it does to me. I've had it for 22 months now and I had to take medication to keep it under control (haven't been able to get it to stop completely) otherwise I struggled really badly to sleep because they would keep me awake. I've also been told that mine are benign. The neuro has said that if they are benign, sometimes after a while they disappear by themselves. Otherwise, I honestly have no idea what to do to make them stop

[tedabell]

Hi theasian I'm still concerned about my benign muscle twitches that I have been experiencing for the past sixteen months I eat lots of junk food and I was eating lots of it before the twitching does a lot of sugar has anything to do with twitches. I would like to know what I can do to eliminate this twitching from my life it has been going on for some time know I don't take anything for them I just want relief from it. However does stress cause your body to twitch. A poor diet I would like to know some things that can cause muscle twitching and what can be done to prevent it.

[theasian]

I know that it can be side effect of certain antibiotics and painkillers, other than that though, I can't really give any more information. If you're still taking alot of medication what I would suggest is that, if it's possible, go off one of them at a time and see if the twitching stops. I hope that helps

PS if you send me a personal message I'll respond quicker, I don't always follow up on things that I have posted

[tedabell]

This is tedabell would you please get back with me as soon as you can thank you.

[tedabell]

I didn't have my kidney and liver checked. Also my blood work came back good for the electrolytes no vitamin deficiency was found this work was done in January 2009.  I still can't pin point what is the cause of these muscle twitches.I know I was using a lot of over the counter medications and prescription medications as well as birth control pills before this occured  I do think that it is a side effect to medication but it could be a number of things I just can't be exact.

[theasian]

Hi there
Don't know if the neurologist mentioned the fancy name to you, but muscle twitches could be myoclonus (that's literally just the fancy medical name for muscle twitches)

There are many causes for it, one of them being a side effect of medication. Since all the tests came back normal it most probably is benign though if you start developing other symptoms it might be something more serious. Did he check your kidney and liver function?

Acupuncture apparently does work, you could give it a try. You could also try taking vitamin b12 and magnesium because a deficiency of those can cause muscle twitching.

Take care