r/Akathisia

I have been experiencing akathisia (or something similar) for months now. At first it was induced by caffeine (which I stopped consuming). But lately its just been happening randomly on its own without any medication causes. I am not and never have been on any meds that can cause this.

Its driving me crazy because everything about akathisia says its induced by medications. My doctor and therapist were stumped. Does anyone know what could be causing this?

Edit: If this helps; the severe restlessness started appearing a few months ago and was initially only triggered by caffeine. It started off mild and got gradually worse. And now, after having a single frappuccino or energy drink, I will experience days of fluctuating akathisia type symptoms.

They will typically be severe and last hours at a time, on and off throughout the day. Over the next few days it will fluctuate more rapidly for shorter durations, with “crashes” strewn out in between spikes. During these crashes I experience utter energy depletion and dissociation.

Then (sorry this is so complicated), I went on an anxiety medication thinking it would help. But it only made the akathisia (or whatever it is) more frequent and worse, and would occur without any caffeine triggers. While on the anxiety meds, I had a couple sips of a frappuccino (was supposed to be decaf, but I think they made it regular on accident). But 10-15 minutes later I started having the intense restlessness again and it was so severe and lasted days.

I am off the anxiety meds now (and have been for a few weeks). But I had a restlessness episode again.

Note: While on the anxiety meds, I experienced rapid mood shifts that mimicked bipolar manic and depressive episodes. And I have continued having said episodes after going off the anxiety meds. So me and my doctor are watching this, and considering the possibility that the akathisia type symptoms are due to the potential onset of bipolar disorder.

I am sorry, that is a lot of information. I am just really lost because none of my diagnosis have been confirmed yet. And my symptoms don’t seem to match any of the conditions I have researched. I am a psych student btw.

I've recently started taking b6, magnesium, iron and folate, as well as a shed tonne of camomile tea and avoided caffeine and alcohol. I have just started to feel some relief and I wondered if anyone else had tried similar?

I fought so hard.
I haven’t touched the offending drug since August 2025 and I’m still trapped in this nightmare. It’s been 9 agonizing months.
In October I decided to take gabapentin because I thought it might help, but it didn’t do much. I’m tapering off slowly now (down to 400 mg from 900 mg), but I don’t know if that’s making things worse.
It feels like my body is being torn in opposite directions. The neurological torment is relentless, and the tinnitus and pressure in my head never stop.
This is a severe nervous system injury and I’m exhausted from fighting it.
And before anyone says “It’s probably just the gabapentin“ I already felt horrible while taking it. I honestly feel hopeless because the symptoms are so extreme.
I’m only 22 and I can’t believe I’m going through this. I just want the suffering to stop.
How should i deal with this??
I can‘t stop thinking about ending it 😭
I wanna kms but I‘m scared omg 😭

I stopped my abilify yesterday and experienced akathisia from both latuda and abilify. How much longer can i expect to feel this way?

absolutely ridiculous. i feel so sad at times because mine was caused by sereqouel. i took this med to do better to be better. i thought things were bad then. if only i knew they could be 1,000 times worse. i miss being able to be tired to be able to not feel like i have to move enough to make someone truly give up and im only 22.
my new psych said something that really bothered me today.
her “it usually goes away in a couple of weeks”
me “i stopped the med last summer 2025 it’s may 7th of 2026”

So it all started with Zyprexa probably 5 or 6 years ago. Since then, I can't stop pacing. I walk an average of 40,000 steps a day. It's exhausting but I can't stop. When I try, I need to move other parts of my body.

I've tried many meds for akathisia. I would have to say the strongest I've tried is mirtazapine and benztropine, but they both have intolerable side effects. Right now I'm on gabapentin, which was helping at first but not anymore.

I can wear myself out, but I can't do that when I have to work. All of my coworkers probably think I'm crazy, especially the ones that have access to the cameras. My family is also always telling me to stop pacing and they don't understand why I can't.

Is there anything you guys can recommend besides what I've tried?

Help needed with

1. weaning from propranolol ( was up to 45mg) due to severe side effects but am also getting severe withdrawals
2. Im on 15mg now , I’ve dropped by 30mg in 4 weeks .
   Background ; The prop is causing me severe paradoxical side effects of agitation , looping thoughts , and downright craziness but when I try to taper off I’m getting more of the terror , nausea , dizziness , and the anxiety is out of control .
   My story - was put on Zoloft for health anxiety triggered by cold turkey off hrt and got Akathisia from the first dose was misdiagnosed and direct swap to Lexepro which put me in psych hospital . They up titrated to maximum dose Lex in 2 weeks . Aka increased to severe ! finally diagnosed after 2 months , titrated off it rapidly in 2 months . At beginning starting to feel better but was put on propranolol and then all hell broke loose again two weeks later . Didn’t realise it was prop at first though it was Lex withdrawals which probably IS still playing a part plus the existing akathisia. I started to titrate off prop and got severe OCD , agitation , looping bad thoughts ,crazily texting all my friends to the point of them blocking me . I need help and advice !! I am not working or functioning, I can’t be on my own , I’m unable to look after myself or my family . The akathisia and the withdrawals and the prop itself is killing me . Help

Hi everyone, I had Akathisia two times once in 2013 and then 2023 and the second time I nearly ended my life. I come here to this page to support others best I can because it is the worst experience anyone can live through, truly.

I had an idea and wanted to see if others would be interested. I believe in the power of prayer/love/positive intentions—what if we started a weekly meeting to send positive intentions and love to those that need it in this forum.

We could have a sign up list of people needing to receive and those of us who can offer it.

We meet on zoom maybe? cameras on or off and then come into heart coherence and go through the names—the person can be present on the call or not—and we bring love into our hearts and send them healing both individually and as a group?

Curious people’s thoughts. Feel free to DM me

I would like to share with you a problem that has been causing me immense suffering for the past six months. I received antipsychotic injections, and since that time, my life has completely changed. It is difficult for me to describe the extent of the suffering I have been enduring since those injections.

I can no longer accomplish even the simplest tasks, such as going to work or preparing a meal. I have lost control of my hands and fingers, and I cannot even sit still or rest because of a symptom called akathisia, which has deeply disrupted my life.

I am also experiencing severe slowing of movement: I walk with great difficulty and very slowly. I never imagined I would end up in such a condition at only 23 years old. Before this, I was active, disciplined, consistent with sports and studies. Today, I feel as though all my strength, motivation, and ability to organize myself have been taken away from me.

After work, I struggle greatly just to get back home, completely exhausted to the point that I have to sleep immediately. For all this time, I have been unable to engage in any activity, and I remain lying in bed without even having the strength to get up.

help how do i make my head stop moving and, how to stop grinding my teeth how to stop scratch my right arm pls

actually ridiculous i know it’s not poison yeah. but it might as well be sometimes. why to get rid of an unfortunate thing i deal with say paranoia do i have to get rid of who i am, feel mentally dulled, physically sick the list goes on and on oh and deal with painful akathisia im at a loss. dude and im only 22 :(

i do have a question if you take the time to read all that, if you already are suffering from akaththisia will taking a med kind of known to cause it (latuda) make it much worse or does the possible reward outweigh the risk? i need outside opinion just really struggling here 😔