Name For A Side Effect Of Medication

[joko]

is there a name for that weird 'creeping' feeling you can sometimes get with certain medications etc, in which you feel the need to clench your muscles a lot, or jiggle limbs or even your whole body.
you cant relax and stay still, this feeling sort of creeps over you and you need to clench your muscles
it can be relieved a bit by moving your body around a lot

does it have a name?

thanks

[anneasquith]

Muscle spasms ?

[AuntPollyGrey]

Is this due to a particular medication?

[Mamyalynne]

Certain antidepressants can cause muscle tensing and twitching.

[TheDevil]

Muscle tenderness? Muscle Weakness? Muscle cramping? Muscle tension? Muscle Stiffness?

There are a lot of potential side affects that can affect the muscle.

You could have a look into the different types and see which one matches your feeling?

[woofgang]

well there is restless legs.....also formication

[Mamyalynne]

The use of 'creeping' made me think of formication too Woof.

[emmie]

i have had formication and it's awful, used to get when in hospital..

[Mamyalynne]

Very distressing condition.

[emmie]

i know, like ants with boots on crawling over your head,
that was the only way i could describe it to the doctor.

[bednobs]

Extrapyramidal effects?

[Mamyalynne]

That's a good shout, really does depend on the meds we are discussing.

[joko]

no its not like bugs on skin, its definitely muscular, and by creeping i meant it sort of builds up until you cant stand it, and have to tense your muscles, not creeping like crawling bugs

[joko]

drugs wise, i am on iron tablets for anaemia and have recently upped my dose of venlafaxine. i was on 1 a day, then 2 and now 3 and now i cant sleep because of this, but it was ok for the first 2 weeks of taking it.

could it be the 2 tablets together?

[joko]

this is a sensation inside, there are no tremors, im in full control off my body movements... the tensing and clenching and joggling are done by myself deliberately to relieve the sensation. if i dont clench etc there is a weird sensation and an intense need to do it

ive had it before - usually when i take herbal remedies for sleep, but over do it - like 4 night Kalms and 2 Valerians at the same time - i get this feeling ... it usually goes away after a few hours with that - but that the moment, its pretty much all day, and its affecting my sleep etc

[joko]

the restless legs things is very like it, but this is more in my arms

[Mamyalynne]

Check with GP or Pharmacist if the Venlafaxine could be a contributory factor.

[bednobs]

what you are describing (to me at least) ARE extrapyrimidal symptoms. you say you are voluntarily doing the clenching, but are you? can you not do it?

[Patsy33]

Joko, I'm on venlafaxine. I'd say it's definitely these that are causing your symptoms. I've experienced the same sensations only more in my legs. It will eventually ease off. I take two 37 1/2 mgs, a day, 75mgs altogether. I found that keeping your feet warm and a hotwater bottle on your legs or arms help. Hope this helps.

[joko]

i can stop it but its a horrible feeling so i just keep doing it. what i mean is that i can be still or clench.

my arms etc are not clenching my arms 'against my will' kind of thing.
like uncontrollable twitching or shaking etc
but i cant stop clenching, because to not do it feels horrible.
unbearable

i also recall years ago i had an op in my nose and got infected - i had a similar feeling then. needing to clench and release and clench over and over to relieve the weird feeling

[bednobs]

"but i cant stop clenching" i get what you are saying but i would call that involuntary (because you 'have' to do it)