[Crook32]

When I was in the hospital we attributed my restlessness to being trapped there but now we are seeing it may be akathisia from the risperdal they put me on. Sometimes I find is hard to tell if something is a symptom or a side effect. Also whether the side effect leads to other symptoms like worsening depression. I am just having trouble reading my moods lately I guess.

[cincidak]

My restlessness was due to my antipsychotic medication, and it deeply affected my life. That's why they put me on medication for restless leg syndrome, and akathesia.

Just in my experience... I have akathisia from Rexulti, so I was prescribed propranolol first. (I think that's the first med that a lot of doctors try for handling akathisia.) It didn't help. However, when we tried cogentin, it worked fairly quickly (like in the span of 1 day). So I'm not encouraging "pharmaceutical intervention," but you could try cogentin and see if it works within a day or two. It'd only be a 2 day trial period, so I don't think it's a bad idea to give it a try if your doctor is willing to prescribe it. If it doesn't work, then either the med doesn't work or your restlessness isn't due to akathisia. Yet most people who use cogentin say it works very well. Like 95% of the people who I've talked to have said it works very well.

[quietlylost]

Sometimes you can find out the difference with some scientific method. Talk to your doctor about reducing or stopping the Risperdal briefly to see if the side effects improve. If they do, you'll know. If the doctor is unwilling to do that, maybe they'd consider switching to a different medication or prescribing a medication to help manage the side effects. Ideally they'd be willing to adjust the Risperdal and see if it's the cause. Symptoms could explain it too, but you'd want to see if you have other symptoms of your mood disorder than just restlessness.

Timeline can also be important. When did the restlessness start? Was it before the medication or after? Does it seem to be worse when you take your medicine or at other times? Do you find that you're bored or irritable? Do you find yourself more distracted? Some of these questions can help you and your doctor figure out if it's a side effect or a symptom.

Risperdal gives me akathisia so I take Cogentin with it and I don't have an ounce of akathisia anymore. I don't really have anything to add to the advice you've already gotten. I hope this settles down for you soon, as I know how horrible akathisia can feel.

[~Christina]

Simple solution is ask for Cogentin and if it stops your symptoms then continue to take it or decided you dont want to take an addl med so your can the original med. Its not a Benzo or controlled medication. Its used to treat Parkinsons but found off label use for akathesia. It will either help or not

Lamictal is actually a seizure med but it was found to help Bipolar depression, so many meds can be used off label.

Hope you find relief soon

[Crook32]

Well my pdoc has back off on risperdal and added back my Seroquel so I can sleep. Slept better last night but am still tired. We back off a little more tonight. Hope my blood levels can even out.

[Tucson]

Cogentin did not work for me. However, Primidone did.