Posted by ed_uk on February 8, 2005, at 8:34:07
In reply to Akathisia - help!, posted by pretty_paints on February 8, 2005, at 8:05:40
Hi!
>It is HELL. The only other time I've felt like this was when I was on Risperidone, except with Risperidone it was about 10 times worse and I wanted to die.
Yes, it is hell! I would rather be in severe pain- at least that way the doctors would have understood what I was talking about when I went to A&E. DON'T even bother reading the descriptions of akathisia in textbooks, they don't even come close. No wonder it's not taken seriously.
>Yes, restlessness, inner restlessness, anxiety, inability to sit still.Yes, these are all symptoms of akathisia. It causes a horrible feeling in the muscles. When I had akathisia I felt like my body was going to explode. Akathisia is very difficult to describe. It's like trying to describe what severe physical pain feels like to someone who's never experienced it.
>trembling hands/feet/legs
This could be Parkinsonism.
But for me, it also creates intense restlessness in my mind. Is this possible?
Definately!!
>Putting on make up, plucking eyebrows, putting on nail varnish, painting a picture, doing a mosaic with tiny bits of cut-out magasine, doing housework, reading a magasine...ANYTHING.
Yes, it makes you totally helpless. Even the simplest things are impossible.
I was worried that you might get akathisia on Abilify, that's why I said you'd need some procyclidine on hand.
>I still cannot understand if this whole package of symptoms is akathisia.
Your symptoms sound very similar to my symptoms when I got akathisia on chlorpromazine. The fact that your symptoms have been relieved by procyclidine is very strongly suggestive of akathisia- other types of agitation aren't generally helped by procyclidine.
>I think akathisia is much more than just restlessness.
It is! Calling it restlessness makes it sound so mild!!!!! Unfortunately, it's just about the best descriptive term we've got!
> But am I going to have to keep taking the procyclidine to feel like this?
Yes, you'll probably need to keep taking procyc if you stay on 15mg Abilify, it might be best to reduce the Abilify to 10mg. Akathisia is strongly dose-dependent, you may be able to find a dose of Abilify where you don't experience it at all. What dose of procyclidine have you taken so far? 5mg? 10mg? Procyclidine is usully taken 3 times a day. How much procyclidine do you have?
Ed xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
poster:ed_uk
thread:454871
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050207/msgs/454885.html