Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Painful Muscle Twitching While On Seroquel?
Question: I am experiencing several symptoms currently: I have muscle twitches throughout my body intermittently for several years; I've recently noticed tremors in both hands; and I seem to have balance problems, though I haven't fallen. I am a 63 yo white male. I have a h/o depression for many years. About 5 years ago I was put on seroquel; I took it for about two and a half years when I got tired of the weight gain and becoming pre diabetic; I've been off of it for about two and a half years. Could these symptoms be indicative of extra pyramidal side effects of Seroquel and are they permanent and irreversible?
Brief Answer:
Seroquel unlikely to be the cause.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Muscle twitches are not a typical manifestation of extrapyramidal disorders so they can't be attributed to Seroquel.
As for tremor and balance issues they could be part of extrapyramidal syndromes. However it seems unlikely to me for them to be caused by Seroquel. First because Seroquel has a very low risk of depeloping such extrapyramidal side effects, among the lowest compared to other medication of the same category. Second because of the timeline you describe. You have interrupted Seroquel 2.5 years ago, while you have noticed the tremor and the balance issue only now. That makes it unlikely to be due to Seroquel. Even in those cases it causes extrapyramidal side effects they would manifest during therapy, not years later. Once therapy is stopped they do not progress further, they improve or at worst may remain as they are, but they do not progress more than 2 years later. So I do not think Seroquel to be the cause.
As for whether they are reversible or not, that of course depends on the cause. There can be many causes for tremor and balance issues like brain cerebellar lesions, metabolic alterations, thyroid dysfunction or perhaps even anxiety. Depending on the findings on neurological exam the neurologist will decide whether imaging and/or blood tests are necessary, or (if everything is normal) if it may be attributed to anxiety.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Seroquel unlikely to be the cause.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Muscle twitches are not a typical manifestation of extrapyramidal disorders so they can't be attributed to Seroquel.
As for tremor and balance issues they could be part of extrapyramidal syndromes. However it seems unlikely to me for them to be caused by Seroquel. First because Seroquel has a very low risk of depeloping such extrapyramidal side effects, among the lowest compared to other medication of the same category. Second because of the timeline you describe. You have interrupted Seroquel 2.5 years ago, while you have noticed the tremor and the balance issue only now. That makes it unlikely to be due to Seroquel. Even in those cases it causes extrapyramidal side effects they would manifest during therapy, not years later. Once therapy is stopped they do not progress further, they improve or at worst may remain as they are, but they do not progress more than 2 years later. So I do not think Seroquel to be the cause.
As for whether they are reversible or not, that of course depends on the cause. There can be many causes for tremor and balance issues like brain cerebellar lesions, metabolic alterations, thyroid dysfunction or perhaps even anxiety. Depending on the findings on neurological exam the neurologist will decide whether imaging and/or blood tests are necessary, or (if everything is normal) if it may be attributed to anxiety.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
