[Blueberrybook]

How do you tell the difference between akathisia and restless leg syndrome?

This afternoon, I've felt the need to keep moving my legs. I have had RLS in the past but always at night in bed trying to sleep.

My pdoc did recently increase my Seroquel dosage by 50 mg. I've had Seroquel increases before and this never happened. At any rate, I just want it to go away!

[MuddyBoots]

I've been told RLS is more of a strictly at night thing and akathisia is constant.

[raspberrytorte]

Oh, I don't know. I hope it stops though. Maybe call your psychiatrist tomorrow?

[Blueberrybook]

It's better today, thank goodness. I haven't taken the extra 50 mg Seroquel (which was the recent increase) yet, though. I will see how it goes this afternoon. If it happens again, I'll call tomorrow. I forgot to mention it at my appt. today. Isn't that always the way?

[Tart Cherry Jam]

Hi Blueberrybook,

I have had both and the thing is, the sensations are so odd that it is hard to talk about them so that others would understand. Hard to describe the sensations. I would say that akathisia is worse than RLS. Akathisia to me was horrendous. I had the worst akathisia on high doses of Seroquel. From your signature, I do not see what dose you are on. Mind sharing that?

I am very prone to EPS of various kinds and my psychiatrist, having researched the issue, recommended last year that I take B6 in high (but not toxic) doses. I then further researched the issue and found out that B6 should be accompanied by the B complex. I started using that on top of Gabapentin which I had been using since 2017. This med+supplement combo, Gabapentin+B6+B complex REALLY helps. I barely get EPS symptoms these days. Talk to your pdoc about B6 and if the pdoc approves, post on this thread and I will let you know where to get high dose B6 in one pill and not, say, 6. Good luck!

[Tart Cherry Jam]

Originally Posted by MuddyBoots

I've been told RLS is more of a strictly at night thing and akathisia is constant.

I had akathisia at night. The moment you are still, it attacks you with fervor. When you walk, it lets up.

[Blueberrybook]

Originally Posted by Tart Cherry Jam

Hi Blueberrybook,

I have had both and the thing is, the sensations are so odd that it is hard to talk about them so that others would understand. Hard to describe the sensations. I would say that akathisia is worse than RLS. Akathisia to me was horrendous. I had the worst akathisia on high doses of Seroquel. From your signature, I do not see what dose you are on. Mind sharing that?

I am very prone to EPS of various kinds and my psychiatrist, having researched the issue, recommended last year that I take B6 in high (but not toxic) doses. I then further researched the issue and found out that B6 should be accompanied by the B complex. I started using that on top of Gabapentin which I had been using since 2017. This med+supplement combo, Gabapentin+B6+B complex REALLY helps. I barely get EPS symptoms these days. Talk to your pdoc about B6 and if the pdoc approves, post on this thread and I will let you know where to get high dose B6 in one pill and not, say, 6. Good luck!

I am on a pretty high dose of Seroquel 300 mg at night, 50 mg in the daytime. I've always had involuntary movements with my tongue and lip twitches on Seroquel (which stops every time I stop taking Seroquel) but it's nothing as annoying as RLS or akathsia. I did get BAD akathsia in my hands/arms when I was put back on Seroquel in the hospital last year and some in my legs. I had to use fidget toys pretty much all day. But after about 3 weeks it lessened and finally went away.

It seems to be getting better with time this time around too. I will look into the B6; do you mind sharing what brand of B complex you are taking? I am wary of B6 though because years ago, I did get B6 toxicity; I didn't even know that was a thing until the neurologist tested my levels and they were off the charts. What dose of gabapentin does your pdoc have you on? I'm on 600 mg (300 in the AM, 300 at night) but often I skip the morning gabapentin because it makes me even more tired than I already am with the other meds.

[Tart Cherry Jam]

I had really bad akarhisia on even higher doses of Seroquel, up to the FDA approved max.

The brand I use for B vitamins is Life Extension. I get one B6 250 mg and then B complex which contains 200 mg B6. I take them together with meals. So in total I get 350 mg of B6. In the articles I read, the range of recommended B6 dosage to ameliorate EPS started with 300 mg. So I can close to the bottom of the range.

For Gabapentin, I take 1500 mg about an hour before bedtime. Its FDA approved max is 3600 mg so 1500 mg is a medium dose.

[ghostsinthehouse]

I second the feeling of akathisia being constant or in any position and RLS being at night or when laying down. I hope that you feel better !

[MuddyBoots]

Originally Posted by Tart Cherry Jam

I had akathisia at night. The moment you are still, it attacks you with fervor. When you walk, it lets up.

I didn’t mean to say akathisia isn’t at night, just that RLS isn’t noticeable during normal daytime activity whereas akathisia is (from my understanding).

When I was on Haldol I would have to knock myself out to sleep or I would lie there vibrating wanting to rip my body to shreds. During the day was still bad, but I worked a very physical job during summers so that helped.