Knowra Akathisia Akathisia Akathisia is a syndrome of inner restlessness and compelling motor activity, often arising as an adverse effect of medications that affect dopamine signaling.
Dopamine : A neurotransmitter involved in movement, motivation, reward, and several other brain functions. Dopamine-blocking drugs commonly trigger akathisia, though its biology is not fully explained by dopamine alone.
Antipsychotic : A medication used primarily to treat psychosis and, in some cases, other psychiatric conditions. Antipsychotics are a prominent medication class associated with akathisia.
Acute dystonia : A sudden, sustained involuntary muscle contraction that causes abnormal postures or movements. Unlike akathisia's restless urge to move, acute dystonia produces sustained muscle spasms or postures.
Dopamine hypothesis of psychosis : A family of theories linking altered dopamine signaling to psychotic symptoms. Dopamine-blocking treatments can provoke akathisia, yet that link does not fully explain its underlying biology.
Basal ganglia : A group of interconnected brain structures involved in movement, learning, and action selection. These motor circuits help explain why akathisia combines inner agitation with repetitive movement.
Metoclopramide : A medication used to treat nausea and certain gastrointestinal problems by blocking dopamine receptors. This anti-nausea drug can cause akathisia as well as other movement-related adverse effects.
Drug-induced parkinsonism : A medication-related syndrome of slowed movement, rigidity, and sometimes tremor. It can share a medication cause, but its defining movement pattern is slowed and stiff rather than restless.
Serotonin : A neurotransmitter involved in mood, sleep, appetite, and other physiological functions. Serotonergic signaling may contribute to akathisia and is one reason its mechanisms remain unsettled.
Psychomotor agitation : A state of excessive, often restless physical activity associated with mental distress. It can look similar, but akathisia includes a characteristic subjective compulsion to move.
Propranolol : A beta-blocker used for cardiovascular conditions and several other indications. It is commonly considered for medication-induced akathisia when clinically appropriate.
Show all 21