akathisia

American  

[ak-uh-thizh-uh, -thiz-ee-uh] / ˌæk əˈθɪʒ ə, -ˈθɪz i ə /

noun

1. a state of motor restlessness, sometimes produced by neuroleptic medication, that ranges from a feeling of inner distress to an inability to sit still.

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akathisia British  

/ ˌækəˈθiːzɪə /

noun

1. the inability to sit still because of uncontrollable movement caused by reaction to drugs

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Etymology

Origin of akathisia

1900–05; < Czech akathisie < Greek a- a- ⁶ + káthis(is) “sitting” (noun derivative of kathízein “to seat, make sit, take one's seat”; kat- cat- ( def. ) + hízein “to seat,” akin to sit ¹ ) + New Latin -ia -ia

Example Sentences

A former music teacher and cellist, Beth used to take medications that left her with terrible tremors and a torturous physical restlessness called akathisia, deepening the agony of a teaching career lost to her struggles.

From New York Times

"Within a couple of days of coming off, it was overwhelming - agitation, anxiety, akathisia, just restlessness, can't sleep, suicidal ideations, all that stuff going on very quickly," Stuart Bryan tells the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme.

From BBC

Mikhaila added that her father experienced akathisia, which is a condition “where the person feels an incredible, endless, irresistible restlessness, bordering on panic, and an inability to sit still.”

From Washington Times

The prescribing information on antidepressants specifically warns that patients should be monitored for symptoms like anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, mania and akathisia.

From New York Times

Akathisia is, by definition, a drug-induced syndrome.

From New York Times