Severe Tremor, What To Do?

Hi BP family- I posted this in Medications, but got no replies, so I'm posting it here.

Does anyone here take more than 2mg of Cogentin? If so, do you have any side effects? I'm asking because Latuda is giving me a severe tremor in my hands. I am on 2mg, but it doesn't seem to be helping. My pdoc is away for 10 days, so it's pretty much up to me to decide what to do.

Sorry to hear that you didn't get any replies.

I have not taken Cogentin before, but IIRC, tremors can be permanent. I've heard people get them and not treat them, and then when they do finally treat them, they've already become permanent. I'm not trying to scare you, but if you must, go to an ER or urgent care to get it handled ASAP. "Severe" is nothing to sneeze at.

I only take 2mg (no side effects), but I just looked it up ( Cogentin Uses, Side Effects & Warnings - Drugs.com ) and some people take as much as 6mg.

Hi! Sounds very uncomfortable. I am sorry you are experiencing this.

Is there no pdoc backing up in your pdoc's absence?

If no pdoc available, I'd question a pharmacist

I'd also research Cogentin to check both side-effects and dosages.

I hope you get relief asap.

Hi BethRags. I did take Cogentin once, but for akathisia, not tremors. It helped with my akathisia a bit, but I had to stop because of...severe constipation. It sounds like you've been spared of that. Actually, I am the only person I know who had that side effect from Cogentin. I forget how much I took.

I had hand tremors on Lithium the first time I took it (when I was taking 1,200 mg). They were pretty noticeable, and I my handwriting was pretty darned bad. Do you have tremors beyond your hands? I've heard people can. I don't always know which people are referring to. I'm not sure what qualifies as severe vs. less severe, but I can say that the second time I took Lithium (on 900 mg), I had no hand tremors. Perhaps it was the slightly lower Lithium dose? Or, I also think the beta blocker propranolol likely really helped. I took propranolol for something else at that time, but know it is also helpful for tremors. At least hand tremors. I still take 40 mg of propranolol, but not Lithium. It gives me zero side effects. My blood pressure is perfect and my heart rate is good (I take propranolol for past tachycardia). I do wonder if it may lower some people's blood pressure too much, though my blood pressure was even lower before the medication.

Thanks for the replies and information.

If I look at my hands as if I'm someone else I'd call the tremor "close to severe." I keep spilling things and knocking things over. Other parts of my body tremor occasionally, but so far, nothing persistent.

I have asked my GP for Propanalol and she said something about "that's such an old medication..." Well, it might be, but I was on it some years ago and it was a good med for me. If the Cogentin doesn't help, I'll ask pdoc about Propanalol.

Speaking with my pharmacist is an excellent idea. For some reason I tend to forget the pharmacy as a resource.

So far, the only side effect I've noticed from Cogentin is that it might make me sleepy. Since I take it at bedtime, though, sleepy is okay.

WC, nope, no back-up. It's a clinic, but I'm used to seeing my pdoc every week. She told me that if I had any med issues while she's away to speak with my GP downstairs. GP is extremely reluctant to deal with psych meds. Go figure.

Since 6mg is the max dose it seems I can try 3 mg, see if that helps.

If your tremor is that severe and your feeling body tremors you need to go see your GP or ER

Never increase cogentin past 2mg daily without a Doctors approval. Your playing with Fire.

There is always a chance this is early TD... and if it is you need treatment ASAP, because it can be permanent.

I’m not trying to scare you.. but someone needs to check you out medically

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Christina If your tremor is that severe and your feeling body tremors you need to go see your GP or ER Never increase cogentin past 2mg daily without a Doctors approval. Your playing with Fire. There is always a chance this is early TD... and if it is you need treatment ASAP, because it can be permanent. I’m not trying to scare you.. but someone needs to check you out medically

Christina, by "playing with fire" do you mean Cogentin can cover up potentially dangerous symptoms?

My GP is horridly useless about psych meds. She announced some time ago that she doesn't want to deal with psych meds because she doesn't know enough about them. Apparently, she's not interested in learning.


Fortunately, I have a pdoc appointment when she is back, in 4 days.

Hi Again,
Just checking in on you. I have been very concerned.
I am very concerned, too, to see your thread has been moved yet again. You've been trying to get responses.

I am hoping your pdoc will find an MD interested in covering while she is gone.

In giving your situation a bit more thought, I agree with Christine's advice.

This sounds horrific and I hope you will be okay.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote Hi Again, Just checking in on you. I have been very concerned. I am very concerned, too, to see your thread has been moved yet again. You've been trying to get responses. I am hoping your pdoc will find an MD interested in covering while she is gone. In giving your situation a bit more thought, I agree with Christine's advice. This sounds horrific and I hope you will be okay.

Thank you, WC, for your concern. It means a lot to me...truly

The clinic I go to is having a new location built so that they can hire more doctors and provide care such as back-up pdocs. The town I live in is small and pdocs are rare. For now, my GP is (so-called) back-up...she's not what I'd call an outstanding doctor, especially with psych issues.

I will be going over to my pharmacy today and will speak with the pharmacist. It's a local, independent pharmacy and the pharmacists know me. I can show whoever is working today my hand tremor, see what he or she suggests. So far, it's only my hands (and a dry throat from the Cogentin).

Have a beautiful day, dear one

I adore my pharmacist. She goes above and beyond for me every singel time I and/or my doctor has questions. She will often call the drug manufacturer for info that is not available in the literature.

I am glad you are seeing your pharmacist. They are a great resource!
Please let us know how you are doing?
Much Love

A good pharmacy is gold.

I've decided not to take more than 2mgs of Cogentin until I see my pdoc in a few days. I've been reading up on it and it sure has some odd, and potentially dangerous, side effects. The hand tremor is uncomfortable and annoying, but I can manage for a few days. No other body tremors, thankfully.

Thank you, WC, for your kindness

Honestly GP’s should never fiddje with psych BP meds unless it’s just for a medication refill with no changes.

“ Most GP’s” simple lack the knowledge of psych beyond garden variety depression , if a person responds positively to a AD then fine, prior to my IP and BP diagnosis my GP at the time put me on Lexapro, I was depressed my marriage was basically over I was a sobbing mess, with in 2-3 weeks I was in a hellish mania and suicidal and went IP , diagnosed BP about a month later.

Pharmacist know so much more knowledge of actual medications They are a wealth of information and free !!!lol

Those severe hand tremors and reporting over all body tremor at times? That is when the ER can help. ER Doctors don’t know how to help someone find a good medication (s) but they absolutely know how to treat side effects from such meds... they see people having terrible side effects from all meds psych or others.

I’m glad your feeling better

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Christina Honestly GP’s should never fiddje with psych BP meds unless it’s just for a medication refill with no changes. “ Most GP’s” simple lack the knowledge of psych beyond garden variety depression , if a person responds positively to a AD then fine, prior to my IP and BP diagnosis my GP at the time put me on Lexapro, I was depressed my marriage was basically over I was a sobbing mess, with in 2-3 weeks I was in a hellish mania and suicidal and went IP , diagnosed BP about a month later. Pharmacist know so much more knowledge of actual medications They are a wealth of information and free !!!lol Those severe hand tremors and reporting over all body tremor at times? That is when the ER can help. ER Doctors don’t know how to help someone find a good medication (s) but they absolutely know how to treat side effects from such meds... they see people having terrible side effects from all meds psych or others. I’m glad your feeling better

I entirely agree about GP's. Long ago, I had GP's who put me on SSRI's, then everyone was shocked at my "anger management problem." Finally, somewhere along the way some pdoc said bipolar disorder. I think of how much relationship damage was done because I was haywire from the SSRI's.

My current GP will refill and I so-so like her. She's just the slightest bit snarky about psych stuff, which bothers me.

I didn't know that about ER docs! Had no idea.

My GP ( prior to my breakdown and getting my shiny Bipolar badge ) put me on Lexapro .. that is what pushed me over the edge and caused my first IP stay. He thought I needed an AD and at the time ?? It made sense I had chronic Fibro pain and unable to work which caused even more stress on my marriage that wasn’t okay anyway.

My GP now ? He was a T for a few years then decided to be a Doctor so he is very understanding about anyone with mental illness. He perfectly fine treating my husband’s depression with Zoloft.

Hey @BethRags Is Latuda an antipsy? I forget. If it is, is there another one you can try? I take Geodon but for a year I was also on Latuda due to me crying all the time but it was a life situation and not a bipolar thing. Once I stopped the Latuda the tremors were gone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethRags Hi BP family- I posted this in Medications, but got no replies, so I'm posting it here. Does anyone here take more than 2mg of Cogentin? If so, do you have any side effects? I'm asking because Latuda is giving me a severe tremor in my hands. I am on 2mg, but it doesn't seem to be helping. My pdoc is away for 10 days, so it's pretty much up to me to decide what to do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahsweets Hey @BethRags Is Latuda an antipsy? I forget. If it is, is there another one you can try? I take Geodon but for a year I was also on Latuda due to me crying all the time but it was a life situation and not a bipolar thing. Once I stopped the Latuda the tremors were gone.

Yes, it's an AP, but specifically for BP depression. I had the weirdest reaction to Geodon...it kept me from sleeping. No matter when I took it. Stayed with it for 10 weeks, but I was a mess. Strange, because it helps so many people.

Latuda is working so well for me, I so hope my pdoc has a good idea about the tremor.