What does this sound like?

Question

Lately I've been getting these weird twitches. They make my arm or neck move involuntarily. It happens mostly at night when I am tired, but also happen during the day on occassion. I have also been getting dizzy spells for the last 3 or 4 months. They resulted in me fainting once, which the doctor determined was from stress and a cold I was going through at the time.

Do I have a brain tumor???

I am on a number of heart medications and on Paxil as well, so if you think it's just a side effect of these, that would be a huge relief...however I've been on the same dose of these pills together for years, so it seems unlikely. Any info would be wonderful. Thanks!

Answer 1

A brain tumor is highly unlikely.

Even though you've been on the meds for a long time, I would certainly think about them as a possible source of the problems, especially the dizziness. Dizziness and fainting are often symptomatic of low blood pressure. I don't know what heart meds you are on, but many of them, especially beta blockers, can generate low blood pressure conditions. It may seem weird that this would happen out of the blue, but your body's reaction to meds can and does alter a little bit as time goes by, and the combination of several meds is always a challenge.

Twitching is a less-common, but not rare side-effect of Paxil.

Answer 2

No, probably not a brain tumor, but you should tell your doctor.

Heart meds can make you dizzy and depending on what you're on, you could get twitches or tremors.

Certain chemical deficiencies can cause your muscles to fire off involuntarily. I wouldn't guess a brain tumor (although, technically, anything's possible) but the dizziness is probably more of a worry. You should go back to your doc, or try another if you want a second opinion.

Answer 3

I was on Paxil too for about 3 years when I started t get the twitches, the doctor told me that the twitches where a side effect from the Paxil, he told me he could give me another pill to make the twitches go away but I didn't want a pill to stop the side effects of the other pill....You should go see you dr just in case.

Answer 4

Your symptoms could be caused by a number of things. The meds you're on could have something to do with it, but there may be a chance that it's something more serious.

My advice is to not get yourself all worked up until you've spoken to your doctor. He or she may also refer you to a neurologist if necessary. But definitely make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.

Good luck!

Here are some symptoms of brain tumors from the American Brain Tumor Association:

General Symptoms of a Brain Tumor

Headache
Headaches are a common initial symptom. Typical "brain tumor headaches" are often described as worse in the morning, with improvement gradually during the day. They may rouse the person from sleep. Sometimes, upon awakening, the person vomits then feels better. These headaches may worsen with coughing, exercise, or with a change in position such as bending or kneeling. They also do not typically respond to the usual headache remedies.

Seizures
About one-third of people diagnosed with a brain tumor do not aware they have a tumor until they have a seizure. Seizures are a common symptom of a brain tumor. Seizures are caused by a disruption in the normal flow of electricity in the brain. Those sudden bursts of electricity may cause convulsions, unusual sensations, and loss of consciousness. Focal seizures -- such as muscle twitching or jerking of an arm or leg, abnormal smells or tastes, problems with speech or numbness and tingling -- may also occur.

Mental and/or Personality Changes
These can range from problems with memory (especially short-term memory), speech, communication and/or concentration changes to severe intellectual problems and confusion. Changes in behavior, temperament and personality may also occur, depending where the tumor is located. These changes can be caused by the tumor itself, by increased pressure within the skull caused by the presence of the tumor, or by involvement of the parts of the brain that control personality.

Mass effect
Mass effect is due to increased intracranial pressure, also called IICP. This increased pressure in the brain may be caused by a tumor growing within the tight confines of the skull, or by hydrocephalus - the blockage of the fluid that flows around and through the brain, and/or by edema - swelling of the brain around the tumor due to an accumulation of fluid. Mass effect can cause damage by compressing and displacing the delicate brain tissue. The symptoms caused by IICP include nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, vision problems such as blurred or double vision or loss of peripheral vision, and the headaches and mental changes already mentioned. A swollen optic nerve (papilledema) is a clear sign of IICP. It can be observed by your eye doctor when he examines your eyes. This sign is common in young children, in persons with slow growing tumors, with tumors in the posterior fossa, and in older patients.

As IICP increases, prompt treatment is required to avoid serious consequences. If you or your loved one is experiencing vision changes, severe/sudden-onset personality changes, vomiting, or severe head pains, please seek emergency medical assistance. This web site, and/or the ABTA staff, do not provide medical advise.

Focal, or Localized, Symptoms
In addition to the common, but non-specific symptoms listed above, other more specific symptoms frequently occur. These "focal symptoms" can help identify the location of the tumor. Focal symptoms include: hearing problems such as ringing or buzzing sounds or hearing loss, decreased muscle control, lack of coordination, decreased sensation, weakness or paralysis, difficulty with walking or speech, balance problems, or double vision.

Answer 5

i have had that problem bfore, mine was nothig seriuos but of course I did not faint or anything.It scared me but it tured out to be nothing serious. So I suggest you go to the Doctor to b sure.

Answer 6

Pinched nerve somewhere