Sicksoul Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Hello, over the passed couple months i've developed akathisia and i'm going crazier than i already am, it's driving me up the wall, frustrating and i have no idea how to control it, i'm going to be put on clozaril soon which the doc says will control it, but i'm at a loss for what to do until then, i can't sit still, i'm always restless, i pace back and forth through my house literally all day, any advice on what could help with this would be VERY much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Vapourware Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 You might want to try Benedryl as a stop-gap and see how it goes. Some people get relief from akathesia from taking it. Otherwise, you would have to ask your pdoc for some prescription meds. One med that comes to mind is cogentin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netsavy006 Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I agree with Vapourware. There are meds to control it. You can try Benadryl, or prescriptions like Cogentin or Artane. Though used less often, Amantadine can also help akathisia, but best reserved when the others fail because of the side effects. Here's a link to treatment options from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akathisia#Treatment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizmo Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I took cogentin for awhile, but developed a weird sleepwalking habit. So I switched to artane, and it mostly works. I can take it twice daily, but I only take it once. I definitely notice if I forego it for a couple of days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Random Rabbit Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Hello, over the passed couple months i've developed akathisia and i'm going crazier than i already am, it's driving me up the wall, frustrating and i have no idea how to control it, i'm going to be put on clozaril soon which the doc says will control it, but i'm at a loss for what to do until then, i can't sit still, i'm always restless, i pace back and forth through my house literally all day, any advice on what could help with this would be VERY much appreciated. Do some yard work. Raking leaves or grass clippings will mask the sensation. So will jogging, riding a bike, or a long brisk walk. Go outside and exercise. Do something. In my experience akathisia is not a problem when you are actually doing something physically active. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I'm afraid I disagree with RR on this. Akathesia drives me CRAZY whether I am busy or not. Benadryl is your cheapest, best shot atm. But you need to get in contact with your pdoc NOW and say you need something NOW. Anna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netsavy006 Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I hated akathisia. I didn't like it that I had to keep moving. I remember that I used to cry in front of mom over the fact that I couldn't sit still. If you can, see if you can reach your prescribing doctor to get some help for this. There are meds available as I described above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sicksoul Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 ok, i have benodryl so i'll definitely try that out, i'll also get in contact with my doc and see what he says, thanks all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somementill Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 The worst part about akathisia is when the psychiatrist doesn't recognize it and thinks its symptoms of your MI. This happened to me, and I had no idea it was akathisia at the time. I reported it to the doctor and he told me it was the MI and I needed to up the dose. I can see a lot of people trusting this advice and then the situation just gets much worse. Luckily, I knew he was wrong and decided to back off the medication. Now, I have to find a different doctor unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momma Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 I have run the gamut with akathesia for 3 years.....24/7.......considered suicide. My psyciatrist was no help at all. Tried Benedryl (which actually has the potential to make it worse if it the Aka is connected to Restless Leg Syndrome)... Cogentin and several other drugs. Finally found some relief with Horizant 600 mg once a day. It comes with it's own problems....a few good days, a few bad....some nausea, fatigue, just feeling ill....but ANYthing was better than the akathesia, about which I posted on another recent page. I understand that Horizant comes in different forms now and plan to discuss my dosage with my neurologist soon. I was very tired and (WITHOUT MY DOC'S APPROVAL) tried a quarter of a Provigil pill an hour before I got up and noticed a tremendous difference! will discuss this with my doc before doing it again. I am NOT recommending that anyone else try this!!! Horizant is Gabapentin with something added and is just another med to try if you still have akathesia. My heart truly goes out to you.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lifequake Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 I'm honestly so sorry you are dealing with this. Akathisia is THE WORST. I was going batsh*t insane with akathisia this week, and my pdoc prescribed me Klonopin. If I take it at night, it seems to last through at least part of the next day. Benedryl has always been my go-to remedy, but it can make one very drowsy. I just wanted to chime in and say that I hope you are contacting your pdoc ASAP and finding relief. It helps me to remind myself that the feeling *will not* last forever. Good luck, I'll send some well-wishes your way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Copy_CaT Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 Wow things have changed, I had this akathisia way back when and didnt even know it had a name at the time, its common knowlege now. Interesting. This was when the internet was just starting and a web page could take 2 minutes to load. This akathisia in my legs made me abuse other pills to sleep, it was a bad scene. The drug causing the akathisia was one of the pills I abused for sleep and was causing it ! half the time. I know what whole body akathisia is, Im not minimizing. Been there done that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 Akathisia *made* you abuse drugs? Didn't you say in the next breath that your akathisia was caused by drug abuse in the first place? so I don't think it made you abuse drugs, you already abused drugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccamel84 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 I got akathisia from too much Abilify. Unfortunately for me, I am a recovering alcoholic/addict and when I feel like that I am SO desperate to stop feeling that way that it makes me want to turn to a drink or a drug to make it stop. When I used to drink and use I'd get akathisia from pain medication withdrawals so I knew all my options that would make it stop. Luckily I was able to take a prescribed Xanax instead of something that would ruin my sobriety and got much relief for the day. I immediately went back down in dosage the next day and told my pdoc there is no way in hell I could take the higher dosage anymore because it is just not worth it to risk my sobriety over. I'm also aware of the abuse potential of Xanax and take it with extreme caution, and try and skip as many days as I can so I don't become addicted to it. Did the benadryl help? And were you able to get the Clozaril and find relief from that? I hope things have improved for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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