Guide To The Potential Side Effects Of Antipsychotics

Restlessness

Antipsychotics can cause restlessness, though the way this presents varies from case to case. For some patients, the symptoms are mild enough to be ignored, and they subside after their body becomes more used to the drug, but others remain restless. The restlessness can become physical and cause agitation, a movement disorder known as akathisia. An individual with akathisia has trouble staying still, and they feel an urge to move uncontrollably. They constantly need to fidget, cross and uncross their legs, bounce their legs, walk in place, or pace. Akathisia usually occurs as a result of antipsychotic medication, but not everyone who takes antipsychotics will develop akathisia. Some patients who have experienced the condition say it's like being tortured. Patients who experience akathisia might become distressed enough to want to stop seeking treatment entirely, even if their doctor suggests new antipsychotics that are unlikely to repeat the same effects.