It’s a side effect of certain medications, especially antipsychotics and antidepressants, which causes an unstoppable, deep, inner turmoil, and a strong need to move around. Sitting still almost feels like an impossible task.

Akathisia can arise in a very subtle manner, which sometimes causes it not to be noticed straight away, which makes the situation even more complicated and confusing.

Akathisia: What is it?

Akathisia is in fact a movement disorder, but one that mostly manifests itself within a person. It can occur when someone starts, adjusts, or stops a certain medication. People feel restless and experience an intense tension, and in serious cases it can lead to feelings of despair and hopelessness.

What makes the confusion even bigger, is that akathisia is not always visible to the outside world. You don’t instantly notice a physical change like a shaking leg or shocking movements. It manifests itself within a person, and is not always noticeable to their environment.

How do you recognise it?

One of the biggest challenges of akathisia is that it can be easily be mistaken for other conditions, like anxiety and restlessness caused by an existing psychological issue. People with akathisia may show symptoms like pacing up and down, rocking in their chair, and feel like they are moving when they’re actually not.

But the feeling is often invisible, which can lead to misunderstandings and wrong diagnoses. Another risk is that doctors sometimes attribute this restlessness to the existing psychological issue and up the dose of the medication, which can make the problem even worse.

The impact of a wrong diagnosis

Akathisia can have a severe impact on the everyday life and the psychological well-being. The feeling of despair and restlessness can be so intense that some people try to escape the feeling by self-harming. The impact of akathisia is often underestimated. It is more than ‘feeling a bit restless’. It can be so powerful that it’s affects everyday life and puts a lot of pressure on the ability to function.

What can you do when you suffer from it?

If you suspect that you suffer from akathisia it is important to talk to your GP about it as soon as possible, and ask specifically whether your symptoms can be caused by akathisia. Empower yourself with knowledge, so you can ask the right questions and are not just prescribed a higher dose of medication without any explanation.

More than you think

The aim of this is not to frighten you, but to raise awareness about akathisia. It is a side effect that is often misunderstood, but that definitely deserves more attention. It is important we talk about it and to make sure people get the right information and support. Educate yourself and use of the information that’s available to ask the right questions and not just accept a higher dose of medication.

Translated from Dutch by SGM Taplin