I only took several pills (16) of Prozac. I had akathisia on it. I stopped and I still have it very bad. No mental history, no other drugs.
I could not sleep for 5 months after Prozac.
Then, I could sleep but akathisia became worse. Could not drive, eat, take care of myself, horrible pacing all the time, horrible pain and agitation.
Now, at 8 months after Prozac, I had one week with almost no symptoms. And some weeks of survivable symptoms. Then back to horror.
I have been diagnosed with Protracted Withdrawal from Prozac, namely iatrogenic syndrome. With akathisia.
I am taking ultra low doses of:
Lamotrigine 0.7mg
Diazepam 1mg
Propanolol 20mg
Clonidine 0.075mg
Melatonin 3mg
Very rarely Cyproheptadine 1-2mg. It knocks me out.
I wonder how meteor63 is doing...
I was the exact same.. I couldn't sit, drive and eating became a problem. I had to walk around eating my dinner.I couldn't sit watch tv. I had to take zopiclone to get some sleep. My life was devastated. I ended up trying to take my own life because of the severity of my illness. I now refuse medical treatment for pyschosis and I've been hospitalized twice. I was given lorezepam to stabilize. ITried propanalol and similar meds to you with no success. That's when I decided to stop my meds. I know how horrendus akasthia is, and even typing can cause distress. I pray you recover
Thank you Gordon. I'm not sure how I will handle life with this. I just pray it heals at some point and stops, like it did for 1 week.
You are so lucky akathisia stopped when you stopped the meds
Yes, my doctor has said as much. Life is challenging at the best of times.akasthia is the worst illness I have ever experienced. My doctor diagnosed me with agitation originally and prescribed more meds, which made the condition worse.. That inner torture of needing to be in constant motion. I lost my job,my fiance and eveyrhing. Only someone who has experiences akasthia understands it's impact. I really hope you can recover.
You seem to have lost quite alot too, gordon. I am very sorry.
I lost everything. But nobody understood. That's the problem. I couldn't leave the house. I paced up and Down in my kitchen from first thing in the morning until last thing at night. I hated waking up everyday. My psychiatrst said I had developed severe akasthia. My family thought it was my psychosis and schizophrenia to blame. But when i actually broke down crying they finally listened. That was weeks after my suicide attempt. Please don't let this ware you down.
Hello everyone - I stumbled upon this thread - 10 years on 10mg of Paxil and I was fine- well I wanted to come off the med - I went off way too fast - so I went back on to my 10mg - it didn't work so doc bumped me up to 20mg - the akathisia hit - omg the horror - I can't even begin to explain the internal horror - I was like that for 5 months- doc said - oh you always feel worse before you feel better - after 5 mos I started reducing - I'm back down to 10mg ( pre akathisia dosage) but I'm still having waves of it - it comes and goes - I have horrific anxiety with it now and it just doesn't want to stay away- I don't know what to do- wait to see if I stabilize on 10mg or just continue decreasing? I don't want to have akathisia and wd symptoms - this is the worst thing I've ever felt in my life 😡 I'm sorry
This has ever happens to anyone
My symptoms include tinnitus, burning mouth, double vision, sensory perception issues, mental fog, desire to shake my hands or feet (but there was never really a need m, but it feels better when I do) overwhelming feelings or horror and dread that wash over me
I know how horrible this can be. I know you from another forum.
For some it resolves when they stop the drug, in time.
For others, it resolved by going back to the previous good dose. Maybe you should stabilize here
But everyone will just take a guess
Please also try Propranolol.
Hello- I've been chronically physically ill since 1985 after viral encephalitis. Because I had so much pain and difficulty sleeping I was put on antidepressants in 1986. In 2005 I was switched from tricyclic antidepressants to Lexapro. December 2015 I went off after having severe dysautonomia. I'm suffering from Akathisia so severely still today 8 months later.
I rarely sleep at all. I used to have the symptoms all the time but now they usually start about 60-90 minutes after laying down, when I'm really tired or stressed even a little. I'm bedridden so can't walk when I feel I need to run. I rock for hours in bed until I'm in excruciating pain. I scream, hit myself, scratch myself, move non stop and mumble or say nonsense words uncontrollably. It feels like I'm in hell.
Ive been physically ill a long time but this is the worst thing I've ever experienced. I was also taken off Duragesic patch in April which made the Akathisia worse. Every relaxing or sleep herb/supplement seems to make it worse.
Sometimes I'm so sleep deprived that I take Klonopin but it only works occasionally and now a few days later, that is causing worsening symptoms too. I sleep an hour here and there a week. It's so awful. No Dr even wants to deal with how sick I am. Only a cash paying naturopathic Dr admits it's a serotonin problem.
Are any of you better? I'm off all benzodiazepines , pain meds and antidepressants and wonder how long this will last. Drinking lemon balm tea with CalmMag and lemon balm liquid plus out loud meditation chanting helps a little. Many days after the horrible moving, I go into a vegetative like state. I'm unable to move, open my eyes or speak yet I'm actually awake. It's very scary. The longer I go without sleep and the more energy I expend, the worse this gets. It's painful too.
Could you you please tell me where the other forums and groups are? This is a very scary and lonely condition for me and my family who now care for me 24/7. I wish everyone the best and healing blessings.
Hi, my name is Gordon and I have suffered from akasthia several times. I have schizophrenia and anti psychotic medicines are usually the main culprit. I had uncontroble need to be in motion. In walked around in circles in my kitchen. From waking to bed time. I lost everything. My job, my fiance and was hospitalised. It was their the psychiatrist diagnosed me with the condition. I decided to stop all medications and went threw several months of he'll. But after 6 weeks or so I woke up and didn't feel the horrible akasthia. I was also very aggressive when I had this condition. I'm a paranoid schizophrenic but I don't take meds because I always develop akasthia. It will go away in time. Just try and take each day as it comes. I know how bad this illness is. I will pray it goes away for you
Hi Gordon,
Thank you for sharing. Yours went away in 6 weeks? I'm into 8 months already. Or did I misunderstand you? I'm sorry for all your loses. After 31 years of chronic illness I'm grateful for the few people in my life. This is the worst thing I've ever faced.
I had the condition for 1 year in total. And when I stopped my meds it dissapered within six weeks of taking my last med. I know how bad this illness is.
Propanalol helps and so does low dose mirtazapine. I know you want to stay drug free. But these drugs are documented to help. I know how long everyday day feels. I'm 38 now.
Also avoid anti sickness medicines like metoclopramide. This would make the condition worse. Benzos aren't the answer either. Withdrawal can cause rebound akasthia
There is a Facebook group : Living with Akathisia.
There is the survivingantidepressants community, google for it.
There is benzobuddies, for benzodiazepines, google it too.
There is phoenixrising for CFS, google it also.
There are many many people suffering.
I will pray for you and your dear family. You are the bravest person I ever met. You are a real figher.
Hello adrian. I agree this is a horrible illness. How are you coping now?
Thank you so much Adrian ❤️
I'm sensitive to drugs as well. I was put on 1/4 tablet of citalopram for two weeks all it did was make me sleep for 15 hours a day. Doctor said I didn't need it as my body was producing sufficient serotonin. He prescribed instead Melatonin 3mg which I take at 9 pm each night to regulate my circadian sleeping pattern so I go into REM sleep.
Hi adrian. Haven't heard from you for a while. I'm wondering how you are?? For some reason I can't email you anymore. My heart problem is angina it's usually seen in much older people. But my doctor said heart disease is very common in people with schizophrenia. How's the akasthia now?. I was hoping to try and get back to work. But nobody will employ me because of my heart and mental health issues. I hope you are doing better. Please contact me. Thanks
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I had akasthia for 1 year and know how horrible this illness can be. I have schizophrenia and the medication I used to take caused akasathia. As Adrian said you are a true hero an inspiration.i know how long everyday feels with this condition. Please try propanolol and low dose mirtazapine. To be honest they never worked for me,but their is some success storys. It stopped for me when I stopped all drugs. I had it for 1 year. And after several weeks of drug withdrawal it dissapeared. Please continue to fight as their is hope