Eye rolling and voices

[tmchick]

Hi everyone,

I’m new on here and this is my first post. I joined the forum in the hope of finding some answers around this-

I have been taking an antipsychotic medication called Clopixol which has caused a side effect of eye rolling with psychosis. It’s strange to describe, but basically my eyes suddenly start rolling into the back of my head and, while it is happening, I hear voices. I don’t hear voices at any other time. My psychiatrist has reduced and now taken me off of the medication due to this disturbing side effect, but unfortunately it hasn’t gone away.

Has anyone else experienced voice hearing, specifically in conjunction with eye rolling? In medical terms it’s called oculogyric crisis.

Thanks!
T

 

[NWiddi]

My voice can make me blink and before I took meds it could control my eye movements.

It went through a phase where it would make me blink rapidly whenever it was talking.

 

[tmchick]

My voice can make me blink and before I took meds it could control my eye movements.

It went through a phase where it would make me blink rapidly whenever it was talking.

Interesting you should say that as the eye rolling does sometimes start with rapid blinking. Can I ask you what meds you took to make it go away?

 

[NWiddi]

I'm on 10mg of Aripiprazole and 4mg of Risperidone. But they just prevent my involuntary eye movements, the blinking is still a problem at times.

 

[tmchick]

I'm on 10mg of Aripiprazole and 4mg of Risperidone. But they just prevent my involuntary eye movements, the blinking is still a problem at times.

Thanks for sharing. And the voices? Has the medication helped with that?

 

[NWiddi]

They reduce the volume by a good 90-95% so it's easier to cope with but it waffles on practically every waking moment so that's annoying.

 

[ddjaz0]

That sounds like paranoia . Do antipsychotics help

 

[tmchick]

That sounds like paranoia . Do antipsychotics help

The medication my psychiatrist took me off because of the eye rolling side effect was an antipsychotic, so I’m now off of that and on a very small dose of another antipsychotic, Queteipin (25mg). I’m considering asking my doc to increase the dosage to help with the voice hearing. Do you think that’ll help?

 

[ddjaz0]

It might be a fixation, ie you are connecting dots and seeing a false pattern. Antipsychotics can help that, it’s like an uncomfortable pattern recognition, like a paranoia about your body, your thoughts, etc. the imagination of fear. The primary effects of the meds in my opinion is to give you some distance from the repetitive theorizing about I am experiencing this or that negative thing. Your mind is extremely powerful, and can create those things and make them true . Try to rest it out if you can. It is unnecessary to combat a feeling or sensation it just passes, like being tired or hungry. There is probably nothing wrong with you. Meds and good people will resolve it

 

[tmchick]

It might be a fixation, ie you are connecting dots and seeing a false pattern. Antipsychotics can help that, it’s like an uncomfortable pattern recognition, like a paranoia about your body, your thoughts, etc. the imagination of fear. The primary effects of the meds in my opinion is to give you some distance from the repetitive theorizing about I am experiencing this or that negative thing. Your mind is extremely powerful, and can create those things and make them true . Try to rest it out if you can. It is unnecessary to combat a feeling or sensation it just passes, like being tired or hungry. There is probably nothing wrong with you. Meds and good people will resolve it

With fixating and connecting dots, it’s interesting you should say that as my latest theory is that it is PTSD of a traumatic hospitalisation a year ago that I keep returning to in a sort of endless spiral in my head. Also the “imagination of fear” keeps me in this loop and I fear not returning from the state. You’re right though, it always passes like a sensation that fades in its own time; my fears never actualise. Do you think with what I’ve shared that it could be PTSD?

 

[ddjaz0]

Don’t know. In a way it doesn’t matter, if it’s ptsd or what it is that’s causing it. You have control over your thoughts if you practice it. So worrying if you have ptsd is the imagination of fear also. The general thought is: there something wrong with me, I don’t know what, I need to figure it out. Then you adopt non-factual information and draw up negative storylines. So the drama is that in your head, all of that is hypothetically true.
What happened in your hospitalization ?

 

[tmchick]

Don’t know. In a way it doesn’t matter, if it’s ptsd or what it is that’s causing it. You have control over your thoughts if you practice it. So worrying if you have ptsd is the imagination of fear also. The general thought is: there something wrong with me, I don’t know what, I need to figure it out. Then you adopt non-factual information and draw up negative storylines. So the drama is that in your head, all of that is hypothetically true.
What happened in your hospitalization ?

I was taken away in a police van, I was put into the cage at the back. I then went to two different deesculation units spanning a couple of days. I apparently assaulted and injured a member of staff, which I don’t remember. And it goes on. When I’m hearing voices, they often return to these traumatic instances.

I like what you say btw about having control over thoughts, with practise. I’ve been practising mindfulness recently, which I think is helping me to stay rooted and focused in my thinking. I also think increasing the antipsychotic will help with this...

 

[ddjaz0]

It wants to needle you about your life. Honestly admit it’s bad and take all the responsibility. You control and have controlled your life, don’t let anybody shame you for anything. You can write the story every day and see what happens. You contain all the information. Also, apologize if you feel persistent guilt. You can call or what, or just claim you were wrong. That activity will resolve the issue .

 

[tmchick]

Thanks for your insight, I really appreciate you getting back to me on this. It makes sense. I’m going to work on it.

 

[ddjaz0]

Hey anytime pm me if you want. I have experience with the whole thing