What is the definition of akathisia

Anxiety is a common problem, but what causes it, and how can we manage it? Here, find some practical tips for managing and treating anxiety. Bipolar II disorder involves episodes of elevated mood and depression. Learn how it differs from bipolar I, how to recognize it, and which treatments…. A new study investigates the benefits and side effects of antipsychotic medication for people with schizophrenia and related mental health conditions….

Bipolar disorder causes shifts in a person's mood and energy levels. It is usually manageable with a correct diagnosis and suitable treatment and…. What is akathisia and why does it occur? Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. What is akathisia? Symptoms Causes Diagnosis When to see a doctor Treatment Outlook Akathisia is a side effect of certain drugs that causes an uncontrollable urge to move the legs.

Share on Pinterest Restlessness and the compulsion to keep moving may be a side effect of some antipsychotic medications. Signs and accompanying symptoms. Share on Pinterest It is believed that along with antipsychotic medication, other medication, including anti-nausea drugs, may cause akathisia.

When to see a doctor. Share on Pinterest Additional medication may be prescribed to combat the symptoms of akathisia. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals.

Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage. Understanding the symptoms of schizophrenia. Causes and coping techniques for anxiety.

Medically reviewed by Marney A. White, PhD, MS. A few medicines are used to treat akathisia, including:. Vitamin B-6 may also help. In studies , high doses 1, milligrams of vitamin B-6 improved symptoms of akathisia. However, not all akathisia cases will be able to be treated with medications. Akathisia is easier to prevent than to treat.

If you need an antipsychotic drug, your doctor should start you at the lowest possible dose and increase it a little bit at a time. Using newer generation antipsychotic drugs can decrease the risk of akathisia.

However, there is some evidence that even newer antipsychotic drugs can cause this symptom. It may happen because antipsychotic drugs block receptors for dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical messenger that helps control movement. However, other neurotransmitters including acetylcholine, serotonin, and GABA have recently gained attention as possibly playing a role in this condition. Akathisia is less common with second-generation antipsychotics.

However, even newer antipsychotics can sometimes cause this side effect. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms. During the exam, the doctor will watch you to see if you:. Once you stop taking the medicine that caused akathisia, the symptom should go away. However, there are some people who may continue with a mild case, despite stopping the medication. When left untreated it can make psychotic behavior worse. This condition may also prevent you from taking medicine you need to treat a mental illness.

Revisiting antipsychotic-induced akathisia: Current issues and prospective challenges. Curr Neuropharmacol. Forcen F. Akathisia: Is restlessness a primary condition or an adverse drug effect? Current Psychiatry. Barnes TR. The Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale--revisited.

J Psychopharmacol Oxford. The incidence of akathisia in the treatment of schizophrenia with aripiprazole, asenapine and lurasidone: A meta-analysis. The assessment and treatment of antipsychotic-induced akathisia. Can J Psychiatry. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.

These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All.

Table of Contents. What Is Akathisia? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.

Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Related Articles.