Tips for Dealing with Akathisia? (Restlessness)

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Doesn’t happen often but when it does it’s so terrible. Feels like someone sprayed pepper spray into your brain. Had a bad episode last night.

When I wake up in the middle of the night with Akathisia I usually pace around my apartment, maybe go into the hallway outside to walk around (although I couldn’t get the door open yesterday so it felt even more claustrophobic).

Ativan helps but good lord is it a long 15-20 minutes for that to kick in. While I’m waiting I like to lie down on my couch in the living room, for some reason the change of scenery helps.

Anyone got any tips on how to deal with this awfulness?
Or what causes it? I had a lot to drink last night and I take clozapine, I wonder if that triggered it?

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If I need help from Ativan immediately, I chew it right up. It doesn’t taste that bad.

I have restless leg syndrome for which I have a PRN of Benztropine.

Good luck!

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I struggle with akathisia often. Benztropine works for me. Sorry you are struggling with this too. I hope you find rest from it.

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I switched med when I got it, as it was bad

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No tips. Just take a specific med for akathesia.
2 years ago I had akathesia, and my then psychiatrist gave me a med, it was called Akineton and akathesia was gone.
In the meantime i had suicidal thoughts because of the agitation. I couldn’t stand it

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so Benztropine or Akineton, are these both take as needed or you take them daily to prevent akathisia?

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get an exercise bike and do a quick burst on the bike for 10 minutes. Really go for it and get the lactic acid build up in the legs. That relieves akathisia.

A heavy burst of exercise involving your legs does wonders to relieve it.

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me too. I also walk and walk around the house until I can stop easily.

judy

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I found gabapentin/pregabalin helped

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I find that propranolol helps.

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Tell your medical team that you get it.

I suffered through a weekend of it and couldn’t sleep bless the meds they took it right away.

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