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Ida,

Most of my books are in my office (which I have been to about twice in
the past 3 months) so my answers to your questions are from memory. In
fact I am not sure whether it is spelled "akathesia", "akethesia",  or
"akithesia".

The descriptions of the symptom are as has been described by others-  an
"antsy" feeling (like ants are crawling inside your skin". It is a
feeling that one has to get up and walk around or pace. It differs from
dyskinesia in that in dyskinesia the movements are involuntary but can
be surpressed with difficulty while in akathesia the movements are
totally voluntary but driven by a subjective feeling that is hard to
resist.  The psychiatric analagy would be a compulsion to was one's
hands- as the voluntary action is resisted the inner distress becomes
greater.

Most of the neuroleptic drugs - the phenothiazines (such as
chlorpromazine or perphenazine) or buterophenones (such as haloperidol)
can cause akathesia.

I hope this is helpful.

Charlie

Ida Kamphuis wrote:
>
> Charles,
>
> I did not know the concept of akathesia and neither can I find any
> description.
> because it seems to have something in common with my wearing off
> dyskinesia I
> am interested to have a desciption of the symptom and the meds who
> might
> trigger it. I know it is difficult to decribe things like that and to
> determine
> the amount of resemblance visual cues are more usefull.
> I looked for the meaning of the word and I found the Greek word
> "kathemai"
> which means to sit quiet. Akathesia might mean not being able to sit
> quiet.
> That seems an understatement when it touches on dysk.
> The partial similarity of my dysk. and the restless leg syndrome has
> never
> impressed me much, because the dysk. does not exist without leva-dopa.
>
>                                       Ida Kamphuis
>                                           Holland
>
> > Bruce & Phil;
> >
> > Actually Phil is probably more correct in labeling what he
> experiences
> > as akathesia.  As a psychiatrist I have run into it quite a bit in
> the
> > use of dopamine blocking neuroleptic drugs which at the same time
> can
> > produce dystonia + cogwheel rigidity.  I have not run into it with
> PD
> > but I presume it occurs since the neuroleptics produce a
> > pseudoparkinsonism.  What medications were you taking when it
> started.
> > Are you sure it is not dyskinesia- which has a lot of similarities
> to
> > akathesia)?
> >
> > CHARLES T. MEYER, M.D.
> > MADISON, WISCONSIN

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CHARLES T. MEYER, M.D.
MADISON, WISCONSIN
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