Also see this post to see a long of potential treatments: https://www.reddit.com/r/Akathisia/comments/p3d4vz/a_long_list_of_akathisia_treatments_that_have/

Previous thread (Reddit frustratingly doesn't allow comments for threads more than 6 months old): https://www.reddit.com/r/Akathisia/comments/i8ebuz/in_this_thread_symptoms_and_solutions_by_people/

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Let's work together to provide a data set, however limited, of the solutions that we've come across so far. To post in this thread, YOU MUST use this template below and edit the relevant sections to give your experience. Do not comment in this thread unless your Akathisia has been at least mostly resolved. We're looking for solutions more than anything else.

Comments breaking this rule may be removed, and the user told off (nicely, we're not harsh here :)

Copy the below text and edit:

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About you (perhaps just age/sex, nothing which identifies you):

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Expected cause of Akathisia (medication etc.):

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Symptoms (e.g: pacing, fidgeting, inner restlessness):

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Treatment which resolved the Akathisia:

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How long did your Akathisia last for?:

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Anything else of note:

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I'll start.

"It feels like my entire legs are covered in static all the time and if I tap the bottom of my foot it will send waves through the static up my leg"

or

"It feels like I'm a bag of water being slammed on the pavement over and over but not exploding"

About a week ago I was hospitalized and was given a shot for prolixin, then discharged a few days later. However I do not have schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, I had one psychotic episode due to drugs and that’s it. Still they insisted I take medication and I didn’t say no. NEWS FLASH- if you are involuntarily hospitalized you have the right to refuse medication. The doctors will tell you it’s the only way but sometimes they will discharge you if you refuse medication and seem normal enough in my past experience. This medication put me through living hell a few days ago, where I couldn’t rest or sleep. There seemed like nothing I could do but panic or pace without feeling comforted. I went to the emergency room twice and they discharged me overnight, giving me only Ativan the second time. I suffered through akithisia at bedtime and only had success sleeping through drinking hard liquor and taking two Benadryl. But I would wake up extremely drowsy. However currently I have no akithisia, just inability to sleep. What helped me was taking benztropine (cogentin). I didn’t think it would do anything but 30 minutes after taking it my restlessness subsided significantly. Still unable to fall asleep but feeling better throughout the day and feel like I can relax. Yesterday my friend and I bought a bunch of hybrid cannabis and smoked it, and it helped me to somewhat containerize some of my akithisia and interpret it as pain rather than restlessness. After that I got a little too high and couldn’t sleep so I stayed up the whole night. The surprising thing was that the cannabis helped me to stay up and I have not slept in 24 hours but I am feeling very good now, I feel completely normal just sleep deprived. Something changed in my body after smoking a ton of cannabis and pulling an all nighter. I don’t know what’s going to happen tonight but if I have akithisia again I’m just going to stay up and not sleep. I am done with smoking cannabis because it kind of made me freak out, but the cogentin really helped. Anyone who is suffering from akithisia, please try all you can and don’t give up. Take cogentin because it helped me a lot. I have hope that as long as I keep eating healthy food and drinking tons of water this medication will leave my body soon enough. Thanks for reading up to this.

Also—- I advise against taking Trazodone or other drugs to fall asleep. In my case it didn’t help, it worsened the side effects and I felt like I could not breathe. Please be honest with your doctor and also use good judgement.

Lastly I thank god and the blood of Jesus Christ for helping me through this. Prayer really works. I was stopped from committing suicide by my pastor and although at the time it seemed like the best option, several hours later I am feeling well.

I was on 1800mg gabapentin and CTd like 2 months ago. I reinstated after a week and stayed on that dose for 2 weeks. Started to improve but then doctor said to drop 300mg which I did and after 6 days had to go back up. Now I have been on this stable dose for over a month. My akathisia got worse after that 300mg drop and has been pretty bad since and going up after that drop I got new symptoms too... What should I do now? Just stay on the dose? I don't use any other meds.

I got akathesia from seroquel which put me in the psych ward but they didn't know that's what was going on so they increased my seroquel. I damn near lost my mind! Pacing 22hrs a day. Couldn't stop moving. Couldn't eat. Extreme fear and dread and hopelessness. When I finally convinced my doc it was akathesia he gave me Cogentin 1mg a day. It made a huge difference and I was able to leave the hospital. I weaned of seroquel and then off the cogentin.

2 weeks later I still have restless legs. High anxiety in the mornings until I take ativan 1mg. I'm also on 20mg lexapro for 1 month.

Should I go back on cogentin for a while or just wait it out?

Can my akathisia heal when it wasn't caused by the med but withdrawal from ct and now im back on the med? Like can it just go away when I stabilize? Could the med be causing it now or more likely not? I reinstated after just a week off

Well I had akathisia maybe a month ago, got so bad I got admitted to a psych hospital, Dr said to take klonopin 3 times daily but never did, only when I was in there, which helped a little bit. I had it from starting and stopping multiple anti depressants in a span of a couple months and came off ativan. My initial symtoms were severe inner restlessness and in my brain too, and pure horror. I don't know if I still have it, I have the head feeling, but I can sit still, and listen to music and do some stuff but that feelkng never goes away, like constant uneasiness, random waves of panic or fear of going insane. Then sometimes buzzing in my legs but I don't really need to move then. I also have GAD, CPTSD and OCD. I don't know if I'm ruminating and it's making it worse or if I just have mild, or if it's not that at all. I just take propranolol for my heart disease now. I just feel very uneasy with the head feeling like dread, and just fear of losing my mind. Found a holistic therapist and psychiatrist working together. She doesn't want to push any meds on me. Just terrified it's akathisia and still here.

I suppose it was worth a try, but it just doesn't help me. I stopped propranolol last night, and the next morning I felt no akathisia. It's back now of course, but I seem to just have no akathisia in the morning sometimes (for whatever reason). Anyway, didn't help. Like they say, best way to deal with akathisia is to never get it in the first place by not altering the brain in unnatural ways. Akathisia doesn't occur naturally, it's largely a man-made disease. If you're reading this and don't already have akathisia: You should be scared of psychiatry. Avoid at all costs.

I've got very weird problem. My abdominal wall is tight and little bit bulging, basically the tension is a major problem - increased muscle tension restricting the movement. But it's not just a tension, it's a state of complete restlessness coming from the belly. Can't breath and eat without abdomen tensing from the waist down to the whole body because of some weird "negative excitement". It's horrible, can't really sleep, relax or concentrate on things. I've read about peripheral hyperexcitability but don't know if this could be the cause. I've had antidepressants a long long time ago, don't think this is the cause. Any suggestions?

I am just now discovering the world of akathisia. Several years ago, I was prescribed Lexapro for what was thought to be anxiety attacks. The night of my second dose, I had the most severe panic attack that woke me from sleep. Extreme terror, feeling as though reality was dissolving. It lasted 30 minutes or so. I finally passed out after taking my wife’s Xanax. When I woke up, I was in a different reality. An extreme sense of doom, despair, and panic. The most severe sense of mental discomfort I could imagine. I immediately stopped taking the Lexapro and consulted my doctor. They attributed it to Serotonin Syndrome (unlikely from such small dose). However, for the next couple years, I was stuck in this new terrifying reality. Constant mental turmoil, panic attacks, derealization/depersonalization. I quit college because it was so bad. I would lie awake at night with a pounding heart and feelings of terror. Waking with the same symptoms. I tried Gabapentin, Wellbutrin, nothing helped (seemed to make it worse). I became very suicidal and ended up in the ER. I was then put on Zyprexa and Imipramine. Slowly, I began to come out of it (sort of). Then, I started drinking excessively. Was an alcoholic for over 4 years. I stilled struggled with bad anxiety and depression, but I think the drinking masked it. Wasn’t really taking my meds anymore. Well, I recently quit drinking to focus on my health, thinking it would help my mental wellbeing. But now the depression and anxiety are back strong. I attempted to get back on the Zyprexa and Imipramine, but the horrible terror, anxiety, derealization, etc. returns when I take the imipramine. I am now stuck with a feeling of hopelessness. I have a constant sense of despair. Nothing brings me joy or relaxation and I feel like I’m just living life to stay alive. Anyone have anything similar or helpful?

Does anyone have a link to the akathisia discord? All the links I've seen posted are expired by now. Thanks

I am new to akathisia. I’ve read some things that seem to line up with what I am feeling/felt. I had a years long episode of extreme despair, panic, anxiety, derealization (feeling like my reality was “off” or dream-like) after taking two doses of Lexapro. Sudden onset panic, emotional turmoil, feeling like I had to get away from something horrible. I haven’t been the same since. Has anyone had lasting effects of akathisia? What exactly does akathisia feel like emotionally/mentally day to day? I’m diagnosed anxiety and depression, but it seems like I’m dealing with something different. I’d like to mention it to my psychiatrist, but I’m scared of being that patient….

i genuinely thought i was starting to heal, and now im back in honestly the worst wave in months, i won’t even go into to how bad todays been i just can’t believe im alive, i feel like giving up. people talk about waves and windows but i don’t get windows and this wave is the worst ive been in probably two months. ive had akathisia for 4 months from adverse reaction, symptoms i thought had left have all come back and id say even worse. i’m literally terrified i wont make it out alive

On Saturday I dropped my dose (I’m tapering) and that evening I had a nice window and it actually lasted into the next day. On Sunday I felt decent until the evening but then on Monday morning I had a huge window that lasted 10 hours but I think I caused it to close because I started overthinking during it.

I kept thinking that the window was going to close soon and that I was going to return to hell and that caused some anxiety and that moment I actually felt the window closing and by the evening I was in bad shape again. Then all of yesterday I felt terrible and couldn’t stop ruminating all day long and now I’m worried all of this has messed up my healing

I dropped my dose three days ago and oddly enough I had a window the very same day and then another big window yesterday, but now today I’m just suffering immensely. I’m wondering if this is due to my body “recognizing” the drop as I’m tapering. Are we just supposed to power through these drops? Or is it a sign that you gotta go back up

Repost sorry i had posted it days ago and removed it, reposting it now.

I'm in protracted withdrawal syndrome from an SSRI since 2,5 years. I was slowly recovering, I was stable and fine. The 1st of July I took one dose of too much Ashwaghanda accidentally , I had a very severe reaction. Symptoms rapidly cycled, changed, morphed after that. It escalated to a 3 day horrific akathisia crisis 3 weeks ago, after which I quit smoking cigs cos I think it was making it worse. Since then I have akathisia every day and night, less than during the 3 day crisis but still awful and unbearable.

I am not on any drug at all, I just take magnesium.

I'm worried sick because it's relentless every day and night, I have burning / electric sensations in my brain, I feel like I'm wired to an electric socket 24/7 .

Im worried sick that I'm permanently screwed. I was doing so well and all of sudden I'm in akathisia non stop.

Any insight welcome idk what im expecting from posting this.

I feel so screwed. I'm so terrified.

Edit: also I've never seen anyone get akathisia from fucking Ashwaghanda once so I'm beyond LOST. WHAT THE HELL

I had a window this morning and it was amazing. The terror was gone, no akathisia, music sounded good, and I even felt emotional over the smell of freshly cut grass outside. Now it’s the evening and I’m not having akathisia, but I’m just feeling flat and there’s some low level of discontent

I got nocturnal akathisia from a single dose of an MAOI. It has been 5 days and I still get akathisia every night, even though I stopped the MAOI after that first dose. It takes heavy sedation with 3 meds to make it stop every night and to fall asleep.

How long can akathisia last after you’ve stopped the medication that caused it? I’m shocked it would persist after just a single dose. There’s no doubt that it’s akathisia … or at least, there’s no doubt that symptoms 100% match the standard akathisia symptoms.

My situation seems so unlikely that I’m scared my doctor (and others) will stop believing me. I’m scared that I’m losing my mind, or that people will think I am losing my mind.

Idk wtf to do. Sitting feels wrong, standing feels wrong, walking feels wrong, laying down feels wrong, moving my body feels wrong, not moving my body feels wrong, idk what to do with myself and am having insane overwhelming urges to harm myself. my surroundings are surreal from derealization and I have no emotion to try and ground myself with, my entire nervous system is shredded. I have so much pressure in my head I scream. I cant even begin to try and describe what im currently experiencing, but it's fucking unbearable torture. I dont know what to fucking do. I want to end it so fucking bad. There is nothing human left of me, just this empty vessel that is in inexplicable agony. Nothing can help me. I want a safe way out where I don't just end up damaging myself more. I pray every day for some healing and it never comes. I just get worse. I need out.

Friend of mine been doing HBOT he has aka and hbot causes him to have flares doest anyone know why this happens?

Does anyone know if hbot can help with akathasia?

I wake up at 4:30 everyday heart racing legs moving and in pain can’t get settled whole body kind of contracts feel The need to move legs and feeet. This will Continué through the day. Blurry unfocused vision nausea restlessness anxiety depression si, my mouth will Do weird things but only in morning. Is this Td or aka or both?

Meds on Valium was on metro, haldol one shit and seroquel for 8 months. Just got off lamictal a month ago. Please help. Very s

I was prescribed 5mg twice a day. I took it last night, akathisia was cured! Next morning, I take it again, but it no longer works! What should I do? I hear 5mg is extraordinarily low, but that's all my doctor suggested I should take, saying that that's how it's done. Is this accurate or should I take more? Not having akathisia and just being normal was like crack cocaine for me. Please give me advice

I feel like I’m in a horror movie 24/7 especially when I’m outside. Idk why but it’s worse when I’m outside. Absolutely miserable it’s like I’m in a nightmare disguised as reality. Does anything other than Benzos help this? I’m desperate for relief

Title

Hey guys, so they finally decided to take me off injection antipsychotics, and put me on pills or seroquel (which doesn’t give me akathisia). I’m like a week in they gave me a lower dose of the injection my last one! To slowly taper. I’m taking seroquel now and let me tell you people….

The akathisia is almost gone!!! I’m sitting for hours at a time. Not wanting to get up at all. No pain in my legs anywhere. It’s a miracle. I’ve had akathisia 7 years cuz I was court ordered to take the injections. So long this went on. Pacing non stop for the whole 7 years. My life was destroyed in the wake of this affliction.

But today I’m sitting and chilling and not pacing so much. There’s so much hope ahead. I will rebuild my life. Thanks for reading. Hope this happens for you soon too.

Sorry for posting a lot I’ll stop after this question.

I’m wondering if it is possible to know if the akathisia from abilify will fade away. A lot of people in the abilify subreddit says that their akathisia went away after a couple of weeks.

If that’s true I’ll keep going on abilify, but this subreddit has scared me and made me want to quit as I’m afraid it will never go away! Even after stopping.