[pacman_789]

Hi, I know hat restlessness is a common side effect of antipsychotics. I’m on a trial of Rexulti (similar to Abilify), and it seems to be working well for me. I just wondered if the restlessness will wear off as time goes on? And would increasing the dose help or do more harm? I find myself pacing around as I type this because I just can’t sit still lol.

[Blue_Bird]

You may want to talk to your doctor about it, I think it's called Akathisia, they can see about adjusting the dose or if you need something like the med cogentin

[still_crazy]

hi. it...depends. i know, that's not so helpful. benzodiazepines, remeron, propranolol, gabapentin...can help suppress the symptoms. not to scare you, but there's a long lasting, sometimes (often?) permanent form of it, tardive akathisia I think...there's also chronic akathisia, I think the two are interrelated. if i remember correctly, the long lasting versions of akathisia are often--but not always-- connected to tardive dyskinesia. fun, i know.

abilify and the sons of abilify seem to have a higher incidence of akathisia than, say, seroquel. each drug--'atypical' or older--has its own adverse effect profile, although all of the major tranquilizers/antipsychotics share some risks, as a group.

are you taking anything else? antidepressants can sometimes cause akathisia. if i remember correctly...the antidepressant-induced akathisia is more common with the modern ssri drugs than with tricyclics...but then again, tricyclics carry their own -serious- set of adverse effects, and they tend to be lethal in overdose.

sorry about this. from the 'alternative' realm, there's limited data on using high doses of vitamin B6 to treat 'acute neuroleptic induced akathisia.' i don't recall seeing any standard treatments for the long lasting versions of akathisia.

talk to the psychiatrist, if you can. i was given gabapentin (neurontin) when i started abilify. this one old school shrink...he told me that he preferred to use low doses of Thorazine (eek!), to help people simmer down and adjust to Abilify. or maybe you need a different drug, altogether.

hope this helps.

[MickeyCheeky]

I agree with what all the other wise, wonderful posters have already wisely said better than I ever could about talking to your Pdoc about ALL of this if you haven't already, pacman_789! Hopefully he/she'll be able to help you. Side effects like restlessness are pretty common among Meds I believe. Just be careful and follow your Pdoc's instructions as closesly as you can. You're not alone in this. Please stay safe and take GREAT care of yourself. Hang in there. Hopefully you'll be able to find the BEST Meds combination for you by working with your Pdoc. Sending many safe, warm hugs to you, pacman_789, and to ALL the people you love and who love you!

[pacman_789]

Thanks, I’ll definitely talk to him about it at our next appointment in a few weeks. Was just curious if anyone else had any firsthand experience. I’m currently taking 0.25mg, but he wants me to increase to 0.5mg (I’m cutting it in half right now). Im just worried that increasing could make it worse, but you never know with these drugs.

[Pookyl]

I hated Abilify because it made me so agitated. Abilify is known to be ‘activating’ for some people.

[Moose72]

Akathesia made me pace and rock and pace and rock. Couldn't stop. Please tell your pdoc about your symptoms.

[AspiringAuthor]

It is akathisia. It is usually more prevalent on Abilify and Rexulti, but I had it on Seroquel and to a lesser extent on higher doses of Zyprexa, but did not have it on Abilify.

What helped me was taking either Gabapentin or Atarax. Both of them have benign side effects profile and are basically harmless medications, so I would try them. Both also help with sleep, which is always welcome.

Do however heed Still Crazy's warning about long-term effects.

[AspiringAuthor]

And yes, taking a higher dose of Rexulti will definitely worsen this side effect.

I think it best to talk to your doc about your symptoms. I have a lot of experience with akathisia, if that is what you are experiencing, but would rather not declare how you might react.

One thing I'll write is that I have never personally heard of akathisia turning into Tardive Dyskinesia. Not that a person can't eventually develop TD, but I am not aware of akathisia increasing the risk of it. You might want to ask your doc. I know they are both Extrapyramidal symptoms, but I have never had akathisia turn into anything else for me. I did briefly have a dystonic reaction (but from a med called thiothixene) but that med didn't cause me akathisia. Dystonia is also an EPS. No EPS was ever permanent for me. I have heard some can be, but I don't think that's common at all. That is likely a worst case scenario.

[AspiringAuthor]

Permanent EPS are more likely after menopause. Estrogen is protective.