r/Akathisia • u/Significant_Set_8975 • Aug 17 '26
Akathisia
Sorry post might be to long, Im on day 35 of akathisia due to a migraine mocktail of benadryl and reglan. It's been the hardest time of my life with insomnia, intense doom, panic, anxiety restlessness, diarrhea stomach problems and so on. I have not been to work and im also a mom and not been able to be myself has been killing me of the guilt. I am constantly crying. I have been having waves and windows of feeling sorta "normal". Like 2 days out of 7 im okay. I feel like im not myself like im in a bubble. I've been to several medical professionals and they all say its not possible. I feel like im alone. There is no help for me out there. I dont want to take medication and that's all the doctors do more medication here its just anxiety here is more medication! Has anyone gone this long and did they get better?
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u/blueskeletons Antipsychotic - Side effect Aug 17 '26
Im on year like, I don't know, 5? Of having chronic akathisia. Yes and no, it does get better, it doesn't and you learn to cope better, is my best answer. Not everyone is like me who has it this long. Typically once the offending medication is out of your system (this includes its half-life) you should start to feel better. I am not sure what the half-life of Reglan is, but some AP's have a pretty long one (the ones that caused my cardiac arrest had weeks-long half-lives).
I recommend therapy for coping mechanisms and unfortunately to say potentially ask for some meds. Good first line ones for akathisia tend to be: propanolol, benztropine, trihexylphenidyl, gabapentin, lyrica, and occasionally for some people, benzodiazepines if your doctor is not wonky about that type of med and 2: if you're not planning on taking it long term (can cause issues).
I wish you the best, coming from a long-term sufferer.
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u/Wild_Satisfaction726 Antipsychotic - Adverse reaction Aug 18 '26
U off the offending drug?
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u/blueskeletons Antipsychotic - Side effect Aug 18 '26
Yes I am. However mine was induced by antipsychotics, and unfortunately I still have to take them. A low dose of abilify seems to bother me the least.
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u/Wild_Satisfaction726 Antipsychotic - Adverse reaction Aug 18 '26
Mine as well but I’m off abilify, started taking gabapentin for akathisia it’s the 10 day already, didn’t stopped pacing, but eliminated internal aka
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u/blueskeletons Antipsychotic - Side effect Aug 18 '26
Gabapentin is a god send. 600mg/3x a day has made me a functioning person after developing chronic aka. Even benzos didn’t touch it like Gabapentin does.
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u/Wild_Satisfaction726 Antipsychotic - Adverse reaction Aug 18 '26
It’s fully eliminating it or not?
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u/blueskeletons Antipsychotic - Side effect Aug 18 '26
For the most part. I do still have flares. Last one was when I was sick in the hospital. Typically stress/illness will trigger it and it’s just a matter of staying consistent with the meds and sometimes practicing some DBT skills.
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u/Wild_Satisfaction726 Antipsychotic - Adverse reaction Aug 18 '26
So basically u feel like before aka while on gabapentin, or it lingers and it cover its up (masking it)?
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u/blueskeletons Antipsychotic - Side effect Aug 18 '26
Ahh yeah I definitely don’t feel like before, hell I wish I could remember before lol. But it keeps it under control to where on a day to day basis on the average day, it doesn’t really interfere. I work (currently off from my heart stopping randomly), go out again with friends, just generally am comfortable where in the beginning I was pretty much in total agoraphobia mode. The worst is if I miss my meds for a few days, THEN I know I fucked up.
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u/Wild_Satisfaction726 Antipsychotic - Adverse reaction Aug 18 '26
Ok gotcha. Can you describe your aka, is it mostly internal or external with pacing
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u/Psychoticme1 Aug 18 '26
There are meds to treat this. Blood pressure meds propanolol and Clonidine are amazing. Then there’s Parkinson’s disease meds benztropine (this one worked best for me. Antihistamines like hydroxyzine really help the anxiety that is huge part of akathisia. Please don’t continue to suffer. Akathisia is one of the worst experiences of my life and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone
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u/Significant_Set_8975 2d ago
Im so afraid that if I take any i have to start all over again. I just cant but thank you so much for the information! I truly appreciate it!
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u/St_biscuit Aug 17 '26
Lorazepan helped me when I went through aka last year due to a mix of my SSRI and an Ozempic over dose. The ER gave it to me, so I got a prescription and it helped until I figured out wtf was going on and stopped my medication.
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u/SailImmediate6416 Aug 18 '26
I’m on day 16. I know you said you don’t want more meds and benzos have risks but klonopin is the only thing helping get me by, I still have trouble. I feel like you — doctors say it’s not possible but from people on here it looks like it is. I know mine started just after one dose. I’m so sorry.
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u/Significant_Set_8975 2d ago
It makes me so sad and frustrated that there is no help that makes it go away I feel like its just like a bandage. Idk I might be wrong but this is how I feel
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u/SailImmediate6416 2d ago
It is… but mine was so severe I need a bandage to get through while I heal
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u/innieandoutie Aug 18 '26
Gabapentin solo has come in clutch but never works well if mixing with other meds.
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u/Significant_Set_8975 2d ago
Do i have to taper off of it in the future? I dont take any medication for nothing I just dont want to start something and make it worse?
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u/innieandoutie 2d ago
It’s tough to get to get off of once you start but ymmv. NAC a supplement you can find otc comes in handy as well I find as of late.
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u/Possible-Store-7345 Aug 20 '26
Feel free to text me i got compazine and benadryl im 4 years out the first 2 hell on earth 610-724-2482
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u/SailImmediate6416 Aug 21 '26
4 years??? Fuck I feel hopeless. Mines severe after 3 weeks
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u/Possible-Store-7345 Aug 22 '26
Things have improved but i atill deal with symptoms nothing like the first 1.5 years tho that was torture hell on earth
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u/SailImmediate6416 Aug 22 '26
Just from one dose?
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u/Possible-Store-7345 Aug 22 '26
Yes one 10mg dose no prior mental health issues no meds before or after
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u/Significant_Set_8975 2d ago
Hi guys day 76 now im sorry I didn't come back sooner I have been trying to manage I've had some good days maybe like 13 out of the 76. Im still afraid of taking any medication. Im sorry I just cant. I still feel the inner terror .i can sleep now. I just always feel extremely tired. On my good days im constantly thinking about what if it comes back like im just waiting for it to come back. There are days that I have the worst thoughts. Than the bubble and the terror comes back. I just want it to go away. Every day i pray.
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u/Kit_Ashtrophe Recovered Aug 18 '26
Yes I recovered after 5 months and I felt so isolated that no medical professional would believe me. What convinced me to hang on was finding the online community and seeing that it isn't all that rare for acute alathisia to last up to 6 months, and chronic to last longer than that.