akathisia

[ ak-uh-thizh-uh, -thiz-ee-uh ]

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.

akathisia

/ ˌækəˈθiːzɪə /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of akathisia¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of akathisia¹

C20: from a- + -kithisia , ultimately from Greek cathedra seat

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

Patients who have tolerated a drug in the past may develop akathisia when they start a new course of treatment, experts say.

From New York Times

“We have to be very careful about this and ask, ‘Is it something I’m giving the patient that’s causing this?’” said Dr. Gedzior, who wrote a paper on akathisia.

From New York Times