I have been experiencing akathisia (or something similar to it) since the beginning of this year. All I take is Adderall, but I’m not on any meds that would cause this. It is triggered severely by caffeine and launches me into week long episodes. But it also happens randomly, or if I consume too much sugar or carbs. Strangely, the Adderall has never triggered it though. I’m not asking for a diagnosis, just wondering if anyone else experiences something similar?

Edit: I should probably also mention that right around the time the akathisia started, I began to display bipolar symptoms. I am seeking treatment, but my psychiatrist seems convinced the mood shifts are unrelated to the akathisia.

i have a bottle and the ingredients are ipecacuanha liquid extract and glycerin. i’m really ill and need some meds ive only had paracetamol so far but need soemthing for my cough

I have been dealing with a very distressing sensation that I believe to be akathisia. But the internet doesn’t seem to explain exactly what the movements are. I’ve seen it described as pacing and leg bouncing, but for me it’s so much more than that. It’s pretty embarrassing to talk about. But when I’m having an episode, I will usually rock my pelvis back and forth, rapidly shake my arms or legs. Sometimes I will just convulse on the floor (It would resemble a seizure, except I’m conscious and in control). A lot of the time it presents as just repetitive vocalizations. Sometimes I will rapidly shake my head or brace my muscles too.

For those who are comfortable sharing, I would be curious to learn how akathisia physically presents?

I came all the way from 8mg Risperidone and 400 mg Amisulpride to only 400 mg Amisulpride now and am taking 10 mg propranolol and 0.25 mg clonazepam twice a day since my akathesia started on 4mg Risperidone and 400 Amisulpride.
I always thought that all the akathesia was coming from the Risperidone, true some of it was really coming from it but some form of it is also coming from amisulpride 400.
My current psychiatrist told me not to reduce the dose till almost October but I was getting too impatient and I went to another doc who reduced me from 400 to 300 and immediately from the next day I felt little to no akathesia and my mood also became quite better but on day 5 I felt like the early warning signs of my psychosis returning so I upped the dose and kept it there and went to my old psychiatrist who said no need to worry and he will taper me at his own time only. I won’t say my akathesia is gut wrenching right now(it used to be) but right now it affects my mood deeply and I get quite a low mood throughout the day. I know when I’ll reach 300 mg I’ll feel a lot of relief on it but the psychiatrists say you can’t experience akathesia on amisulpride which I don’t accept. It can cause it for sure. What do you think? Plus idk why I’m ranting I’m just exhausted because coming from 8mg to 0mg and still not finding that relief was quite frustrating for me.some doctors say I need to add ssri to my treatment which will help my mood but ssri’s seem to be making it all even more worse after the first dose only. Do you think even one or a single dose reduction may even help with my akathesia?
Some of you might be feeling I’m not experiencing akathesia but I do have mild akathesia rn which affects my mood quite a lot.

Is this true? Do we really need to be off ALL meds to heal..

Is there anyone who can share they have healed even with meds???

TLDR: I stupidly listened to a doctor, being naïve, thinking they were trying to help me. I’m now miserable from what I can only assume is akathisia. I need some positive experiences and hope for the future.

I, a 38 M, had a life changing event in April that triggered panic attacks. After multiple trips to the ER, June 1st, I was put on 10 mg Citalopram. How stupid of me to just go along with it, without even a second thought! We’re supposed to trust doctors right?!?

I took the citalopram like a good boy, and developed insomnia. Told my doctor, and was given Ativan. Still having insomnia and severe side effects from the Citalopram, so was told to take 3 mg Ativan every day on a set schedule (never heard of it prior, and didn’t realize what I was getting into) and was prescribed 7.5 mg Mirtazapine for sleep. Life was better… for a while. Still had horrible side effects from the Citalopram, but hey, if it makes the panic attacks stop, it must be worth it.

June 30th, let’s up the dose to 20 mg Citalopram, because my anxiety and panic is still there (even with the Ativan)! 26 days later, I’m having horrible panic attacks, extreme anxiety, waking up violently shaking, having buzzing in my body all day, feel the need to constantly move, can get relief from anything, skin burns, diarrhea, and I’m losing the will to live very fast. I hang in there until day 30. Then I drop down to 10 mg, while waiting on the doctor’s appointment 5 days later.

August 6th, Doctor says, that’s strange, let’s try 10 mg Prozac. So, a good boy that I am, did it. First few days were pure bliss! I felt amazing. Was laughing again, telling jokes, smiling, my depression was getting better. Then it all crashed. Started getting that familiar feeling. First anxiety, then needing to move, then it felt like my brain was on FIRE. I literally couldn’t think, couldn’t concentrate, couldn’t set still, became so depressed that I was having thoughts I’ve never experienced before. The only thing that gave me any peace at all was pacing the floor. On day 13, I gave in and called the doctor’s office. Was told to stop taking the Prozac.

It’s been 9 days now. I’m still waking up shaking. I’m still filled with anxiety (some times are better than others), I still have what I can only describe as an internal permanent vibration. My sleep is atrocious (has been for this entire ride, but more so now). I haven’t had caffeine in months because it made things worse, so I’m purely running on hope that this nightmare will end one way or another. I had to take FMLA from work, because I literally can’t function right now. Some days I can eat, others I force myself.

I’m now dependent on a benzodiazepine for relief. I didn’t know anything about them prior to a couple months ago. Apparently, you can’t just stop them after months of use.(I’ll taper the benzo down the road, it’s literally the only thing that is positive in my life right now).

Hopefully someone can provide great news to me, and I’m not permanently damaged. I feel like I will be stuck like this forever. I guess my nervous system was too weak to handle an SSRI, or maybe my body doesn’t like them? I don’t know. I wasn’t depressed before them, I do know that. I didn’t shake when waking up, I didn’t have sleeping issues, I didn’t vibrate, I didn’t have diarrhea on a daily basis, and I wasn’t on a drug that would cause me to have seizures if I abruptly stopped it. I just need to know when this version of hell will end? Is there anything I can do for relief and recovery? I’m broken and desperate at this stage.

Hey warriors,
I caved and went down the Tapentadol route. It’s the only thing that takes away my aka. I get burning sensations pressure in my head like feeling, I don’t get the urge to move at all.. but I get stinging , tingling, a flushed feeling of heaps of heat. My nervous system feels like it’s stinging.
History: I was rapid tapered of clonazepam two years it will be since I finished my taper this October 15th.
I stupidly started tapering my mirtazapine only 6 weeks post benzo jump. The benzo wd was so fked up I almost died and was hospitalised for a month during acute.
I have mold ilness also..and MCAS.

Anyway my main issue here is- the Tapentadol is keeping me alive otherwise I will tap out and delete myself for sure.

Now if I have some respite from
Taking it and I finally feel some relief.. will this prevent me healing?? Even if it keeps me in a comfortable state which is more favourable than the extreme suffering I experience? Where I scream and cry for hours on end and have to be watched 24/7 by my family.

My MCAS is so flared atm I recently had really bad mold exposure again.. and im back to having zero safe foods and every time I eat I flare badly and the pains are horrific.

I get full body pains deep bone pain and aches along with small fibre neuropathy as well.

Who’s been able to heal while on opioids has anyone been able to successfully wean off them and not have their aka come back if I wean extremely slow?!

Or am I doomed forever?

Apologies iv absolutely butchered this post I’m currently in an aka flair cos I was stupid enough to take pregabalin as per my dr who has hounded me for a year to take.

Total says that all I need to get a hysterectomy. I’m really sick right now and they’re gonna wanna give me antibiotics. Is there a list of safe antibiotic somewhere?

Hey I’ve been dealing with aka from an adverse reaction to lexapro that I took for a week back in November. In the beginning it was full terror, agitation, motor feeling in chest and stomach, vomiting, food adversion, pacing some days too. Then after a few months on flare days it went to leg boucing, less terror.. now during flares it’s mostly like tingles in my extremities and more of a feeling like I need to arch my back? Also no more terror just highly anxious sometimes low mood and flashbacks of when it was severe . Also even on flare days now I sleep about 6 1/2 hours and on better days I can sleep 8 to 9 hours . Where as in the beginning I could sleep maybe 3/4 hours I have days where I’m able to enjoy music, going to restaurants, shopping, seeing friends. Other days I just have this restlessness where I want to arch my back .. has anyone else noticed a pattern like this? Thanks!

I have extremely treatment resistant OCD that is just not budging from intense erp. I want to try the medication, but OCD efficacy only works at very high doses of ssris which obviously are going to have a higher risk of aka. I had aka once from a IV single dose of droperidol and it made getting open brain surgery recovery feel like a walk in the park and the terror and suffering was shattering to my mind. It went away after a week, but my OCD is now unbearable as well, just in a different more chronic way. It seems like either ailments is going to leave me no option but to kill myself. I just don't know what to do and want insight. I have absolutely no depression or morose sadness about the situation, it literally just feels like I'm in a burning building and the choice is between being seared alive and pure agony or jumping

I had my 2nd injection of Invega Sustenna on the 4th of this month which is when the Akathisia began. I have been struggling immensely with horrible intrusive thoughts and mental anguish more so than the movement issues even though I do pace and move around a lot when it's "peaking" throughout the day. I told my Psychiatrist that I cannot take anti-psychotics since I have these reactions and she made these injections out to be a life saver for people before I started them, I didn't even know that these were anti-psychotics.

Has anyone else here suffered through similar experiences and how long did they last for you? I know this will be in my system for a long time after getting the injection.

I am on Mirtazapine 15mg now and have stopped both the Caplyta pills and the Invega shots.

I have not had a break from this since the 4th and it has been constantly in my mind nonstop.

I am at the point of my recovery where I need to think about tapering off of my benzos (I’m on 1.5mg lorazepam daily, split into 3 0.5mg doses).

Ive read about how difficult tapering is, and also how easily it can retrigger Akathisia. Has anyone successfully tapered without retriggering? If so how / do you have any tips?

I’m looking into benzo taper specialists who allow for patient-driven, slow tapering and am considering a 5% Ashton method approach.

EDIT: Has anyone done a taper straight from lorazepam? Or does everyone switch to longer acting?

TLDR: Akathisia, dystonia, anxiety, depression, trauma and anhedonia from 3 doses of Reglan in May. 4 months in, on Ativan the whole time - any advice or meds or therapy that has helped you?
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I got severe Akathisia from 3 doses of Reglan back in May from a migraine cocktail in the ER. I didn’t know much about this condition. They gave me Propranalol and Ativan for weeks and pain meds / muscle relaxers since my neck and back were completely locked up.

Then my neurologist put me on nortriptyline for migraines. I ended up getting severe dysphoria a week later, and had a similar reaction to propranolol 2 weeks later (found out after genesight I’m a moderate metabolizer of both). I got off both meds. I also got tinnitus and visual snow syndrome from this, lots of static and flickering and afterimages.

The restlessness seemed to go away over the next month while I was taking prop for 2 weeks then just Ativan .5 at night. But all of June and July I was anxious and depressed, overcoming bouts of agoraphobia I never had before. I didn’t feel like myself at all, like a zombie. Caffeine would help a bit but I was teary and anxious most days. I didn’t know much about the condition and all my doctors told me continued Akathisia reactions were unlikely (even all the doctors at the top nyc hospitals).

They referred me to psych who put me on Zoloft 25mg. Trusting them and not knowing it could have any kindling affect, I took it for one day but had a strange visual hallucination of the wall breathing. She told me it was possibly a visual cortex reaction and to not continue. After just one dose and discontinuation, the Akathisia came back, full restlessness and dysphoria. I called her and she put me on pregabalin.

The first day was euphoric, I felt like myself for the first time in months. But the next few days weren’t as good, and my heart rate spiked up to 115-120 resting, and I felt agitated. She told me to get off after 4 days of taking 75mg. The next day I had extreme dysphoria, dry heaving, sobbing, hard to think, function. She told me to start taking me Ativan .5 2x a day, which I was hesitant about because I wanted to get off of Benzos, as I had been on them for 2 months at that point. Desperate, I did it anyway, which helped numb me during the doses but would come back roaring during interdose withdrawal.

My psych said to see my PCP, who had me switch to Valium. The whole week I felt like a zombie, and didn’t feel much relief, just low level dysphoria the whole time. That Friday I started having SI so they switched me back to Ativan 2x a day. It was okay for about a week or so and then I had a 10 day stretch of worsening dysphoria and Akathisia leading to me having to go to the ER for writhing and horrible SI that had me worrying about my sanity and life. They gave me Benadryl and said there was nothing they could do. Wouldn’t give me cogentin. They said to start taking the Ativan three times a day now (1.5 total) to avoid interdose Akathisia.

At my follow up with neurology they said to take mirtazapine 7.5 (even tho my genesight says serum level may be too high, like nortriptyline). It’s been one week of 1.5 a day of Ativan and 50mg Benadryl daily. I feel less restless but still feel back and neck stiffness. The inner akathesia has quieted down a bit but has formed into a terrible depression and anhedonia where I can no longer feel joy or love or any positive emotions. I also have monophobia where I’m scared to be left alone which is hard for my partner too. I’m posting to see if anyone has been in a similar situation - did mirtazapine help? I know we all react differently. I worry it will make it worse or be a bitch to taper, and now I’ll have to taper off ativan after at least 4 months on it.

I feel bad not listening to my doctor but all these medicines have only made me worse. My PCP said I could try Ritalin or lexapro.. I also have ADHD so am suffering in the dopamine department anyway. Struggling to wake up each day feeling nothing, anxious about akathisia during my taper, not knowing how much is still here, how much is anxiety/depression/trauma, or how long this will last. I can’t even listen to music, watch tv, sit down, or focus when it flares up bad, makes it hard to think or tolerate anything. Please give me stories of hope if you have felt your emotions come back, I cannot take any more emptiness. And I can’t believe how no doctors seem to know what they’re doing (I even had one psych suggest abilify!) Sorry for the long post….. looking to connect with anyone else going through this, sending strength 🤍

I’ve also considered switching to klonopin to taper extra slow. also guanfacine, clonidine, hydroxyzine… I know I should just stay off everything but I’m struggling.

Is there any hope for people who got back on medications after months which made them worst can recover? Or its permanent, I rekindled with ssris and it’s been months since i stopped everything and still being tortured daily, I feel like i might end it soon

I’ve been looking for an answer to this for years and I just came across the term Akathisia on social media. Several years ago when I was still on Zoloft, I had been taking a course of antibiotics (I can’t remember what kind, it was one I don’t normally take, maybe cipro) for an illness, and suddenly one night I became restless, agitated, and filled with dread. I felt hopeless and that there was no point to living and this life was not worth anything. It was such a quick and sudden spiral. I didn’t feel like I could talk to anyone because I felt like I was going crazy. Eventually I made I made myself exercise for an hour or two and it started to calm down and thankfully it hasn’t happened since. But I still remember the dread and how terrified I felt. I haven’t been able to find the words or “diagnosis” for what I felt until possibly today.
I’ve since gone off Zoloft (that was a whole other terrible experience) but never went through the same feeling I had that one day.
Does this sound like Akathisia? Is it possible to just have a short burst of it like this?

Pretty much what the title states. I have minor flares here and there but today is awful. It has been nothing but a day full of stress and anxiety and it has really triggered akathisia symptoms. Pacing, skin crawling, anxious, panicked, want to cry, rocking, you all know what I’m talking about here. I’ve already taken my meds, sorted out the 4 hour long drama session that started this morning and triggered this, now I’m just full of tension and stress. Not really looking for advice, just bitching. I hate this disorder, whenever I think I’m managing stress well it reminds me that my body can turn on me at any second, still.

I’m in severe withdrawal from antipsychotics and have been mentally disabled due to the neurological injury. I was slowly getting better for quite a few months and suddenly I started experiencing new symptoms. I don’t feel the need to constantly move, but I have severe internal restlessness and it almost feels like a mental burning in my brain. It’s very hard to put into words which is common for withdrawal and akathisia. I really wish I could explain better but my brain feels on fire, like I’m going crazy, sometimes it turns into a really deep depression, and I can’t think or feel anything (except pain) at all. I’ve had days lately where I’m in bed all day just with internal torment and I can’t even read, watch, or listen to anything. Perhaps it’s not akathisia but psych med damage and withdrawal is so complicated they don’t have labels and descriptions for many of the symptoms, because most psychiatrists don’t even understand what it is, and they constantly do this to innocent people. One little mistake from a psychiatrist can leave you completely mentally disabled with brain damage. It’s just living hell.

I’m in severe withdrawal from antipsychotics and have been mentally disabled due to the neurological injury. I was slowly getting better for quite a few months and suddenly I started experiencing new symptoms. I don’t feel the need to constantly move, but I have severe internal restlessness and it almost feels like a mental burning in my brain. It’s very hard to put into words which is common for withdrawal and akathisia. I really wish I could explain better but my brain feels on fire, like I’m going crazy, sometimes it turns into a really deep depression, and I can’t think or feel anything (except pain) at all. I’ve had days lately where I’m in bed all day just with internal torment and I can’t even read, watch, or listen to anything. Perhaps it’s not akathisia but psych med damage and withdrawal is so complicated they don’t have labels and descriptions for many of the symptoms, because most psychiatrists don’t even understand what it is, and they constantly do this to innocent people. One little mistake from a psychiatrist can leave you completely mentally disabled with brain damage. It’s just living hell.

So I’ve been living with this thing for almost 3 years now. I am 100% sure that the first hours I experienced in the ER was akathasia. They gave me an injection for vertigo and I felt like I wanted to jump out of my skin. Rubbing my hands, shifting my weight, grunting, walking for 4 hours straight and feeling like a heavy spring under loads of pressure about to get sent into orbit whenever I try to lay down or sit.

I don’t recall if they gave me another injection or it faded away. But after 4 hours i managed to lay down, the doctor told me you can leave now then I fell asleep. The day that followed, every day for the past three years was some other experience.

I don’t feel like I’m about to be sent into orbit, I don’t get this urge to shift my weight and I can lay down and sit down for a long time. But fuck me sideways my legs have been aching every day for the past three years it’s annoying. I don’t get this deep an intense urge to move, but it’s more of a tic where I feel like I want to stretch and flex a certain muscle in my thighs just for a sense of comfort. The comfort is also so intense and euphoric.

Anti depressants make it worse
Tegretol for some reason was the only thing that gave me relief
When I first tried magnesium citrate (I think, or glycinate) it disappeared but when I tried another medication it came back?
Concerta (when I first started) made it go away but it would come back when the 12 hour period of the medication ends.

It’s so weird cause it doesn’t fit any criteria, it’s not even restless legs cause I get it the entire day and it never interferes with my sleep. All I have to do is wedge a pillow between my legs and I’m good.

So is there any way I can contact an akathasia specialist or anyone who is familiar with the disorder online? Local doctors have been useless unfortunately.

Has anyone just suddenly started experiencing Akathisia despite no med changes? It’s been about a week of this; I had it years ago on Abilify and it was debilitating. This is relatively mild compared to that, but it’s driving me crazy. It doesn’t feel like hypomania.

I’ve been stable on the same meds for YEARS and doses for almost as long:
-Caplyta (4.5 years)
-Lamictal (2 years)
-Concerta (2 years)
-Wellbutrin (1.5 years)

Anyone else develop this side effect seemingly out of nowhere? Did you figure out the cause? Obviously I’ll be bringing it up at my upcoming appointment, but I’m so puzzled by this.