inner shaking/trembling from an SSRI?

[eduk8or]

Anyone experience trembling all over or what I call inner shaking from their SSRI?  I started on 20mg of Paxil at the beginning of August, was upped to 30mg at the start of September and have been experiencing this shaking for the last couple weeks.  Is it from my anxiety or is it a side effect of the Paxil?

[SASKRS]

HI - I had the tingly shaking in my legs although they weren't visibly shaking. My hands did visibly shake like when I was taking a drink or holding something.... I went from 20 mg paxil back down to 10 mg with dr approval...

[Door]

It could be both.  It's hard to tell.  If it doesn't go away in a few days, talk to your doctor.

[eduk8or]

I should also mention it gives me something like restless leg syndrome at night, which I never had before.  When I wake up at like 3 or 4am, I can't stop moving my legs.  Also, when I am just sitting, I feel like I have to bounce one of my legs up and down and can't just sit still.  I know I should call my dr, but I'm afraid of having to quit this medication and try a new one.  It was hellish starting this SSRI. 

[Bama21]

Anyone experience trembling all over or what I call inner shaking from their SSRI?  I started on 20mg of Paxil at the beginning of August, was upped to 30mg at the start of September and have been experiencing this shaking for the last couple weeks.  Is it from my anxiety or is it a side effect of the Paxil?

"Inner shaking" is a pretty good way to describe it. 

Not sure if you've ever said, but...had your anxiety gotten better when the shaking started a couple of weeks ago?  When I noticed the trembling, I had started to feel a lot better than when I first started my SSRI.  That's what made me think it was the medicine.

[eduk8or]

Yes, actually.  My anxiety feels better, but my body feels worse...

[eduk8or]

Oh and Bama,

Did you find taking your benzo helped with the shaking or did you not try that? 

[Bama21]

Oh and Bama,

Did you find taking your benzo helped with the shaking or did you not try that? 

Yes...it helped.  A small dose of the Clorazepate pretty much muted the trembling.  I take 7.5 mg.  The dosages for Clorazepate are 3.5, 7.5, and 15 mg...usually taken 2 or 3 times a day.  I take 3.5 to 7.5 once a day.

The problem with Clorazepate (like any other benzo) is that it's supposed to be a short-term answer.  At this point, I'm taking one 7.5 mg dose at night because it seems to help me sleep (along with 50mg of Simply Sleep).  I'm going to try to only take 3.5 mg tonight.  I'm still conflicted about the benzo.  It helps, but I don't want to be one of those guys who doesn't realize he's addicted until it's too late.

[eduk8or]

See, I don't get that.  If the trembling is caused by the SSRI, why would the benzo mask it?  Does that mean the shaking is really caused by anxiety and the benzo it taking care of it?  I finally broke down and took .5mg of my clorazepam last night because I was shaking all day and it was freaking me out and I couldn't sleep.  Woke up this a.m. and the shaking was much less, but not gone entirely.  I still feel like I have to move my leg(s) up and down when I am sitting still.  UGH.  What is this stuff doing to my brain??!!

[Bama21]

See, I don't get that.  If the trembling is caused by the SSRI, why would the benzo mask it?  Does that mean the shaking is really caused by anxiety and the benzo it taking care of it?  I finally broke down and took .5mg of my clorazepam last night because I was shaking all day and it was freaking me out and I couldn't sleep.  Woke up this a.m. and the shaking was much less, but not gone entirely.  I still feel like I have to move my leg(s) up and down when I am sitting still.  UGH.  What is this stuff doing to my brain??!!

Benzos make you PHYSICALLY calm down.  They relax you.  I'm not aware of any mental effect that benzos have other than the fact that making us feel physically calm will help us relax mentally. 

That's how I assume they helped with the shaking.  I thought that they physically relaxed the muscles that were trembling.  It could be anxiety, I guess.  It just doesn't seem like it because, like I said, I was feeling better than ever when the trembling started.  It's also subsided since I've lowered my dosage of SSRI.

[eduk8or]

That is really good to know that the shaking stopped when you decreased your SSRI dose.  Did your anxiety level go back up then?  Maybe I am too high on my dose of Paxil.  I can't get in to see my dr. til the end of October, but I am seriously considering calling her to see if she can squeeze me in before then.

[Bama21]

That is really good to know that the shaking stopped when you decreased your SSRI dose.  Did your anxiety level go back up then?  Maybe I am too high on my dose of Paxil.  I can't get in to see my dr. til the end of October, but I am seriously considering calling her to see if she can squeeze me in before then.

I was at 20mg for about 6 weeks.  One day I dropped down to 10mg and after the second day, I woke up feeling anxious and a little worried.  After that I went back up to 15mg and have been at that dose for about 4 days.  I feel better with minimal trembling.  I plan to go back to 20mg after going for maybe another week or so at 15mg...just see if maybe my body will be adjusted by then.  If the tremors start again, then, I might just try to ride it out.

I will say this:  The anxiety and worry that I felt just after going to 10mg could have been anxiety at dropping the dosage.  I think it takes longer than a day or two to start feeling the effects of dropping a dose of SSRI.  That might be wrong, though.

[eduk8or]

When I was tapering off of Paxil the first time, I didn't feel worried or anxious right away, but found that I was more emotional, like I would tear up easier or get angry more easily.  Everyone's different though.  I want to ride out the trembling and see if it goes away, becaue I do not want to have to go through the turmoil of switching to a new SSRI,  but I also want to make sure the trembling's not dangerous or I'm not becoming manic or something.  I should probably really just get my butt in to see my dr, I guess.

[lucho]

 I have inner tremors but I am not sure if it is from the ssri, benzo or the anxiety itself

[eduk8or]

lucho,
How long have you been taking your SSRI?

[lucho]

15 days so far and tried paxil before for 5 days but  I was not able to handle it so now I am on 50mg of zoloft

[eduk8or]

Lucho,

I think that might be what it's from since you just started your SSRI.  You should maybe call your dr to make sure,  but it could be a side effect of the Zoloft.  Usually it will go away when it reaches the working stage, which is anywhere form 4-6weeks... at least that's what I've been told.

[lucho]

i certainly hope so because the tremors are driving me crazy especially at night. Also I am going to be stopping my lorazepam this friday due to the fact that I am feeling better emotionally but the physocal symtoms are still present.

[eduk8or]

Good luck!  Let us know how it goes!!