Akathisia: better detection is needed

doi:10.1136/bmj.324.7352.0/f

Akathisia: better detection is needed

Akathisia $---$ restlessness; from the Greek "not to sit" $---$ is an important side effect to consider in patients prescribed antipsychotics,antiemetics, or antidepressants. Yet even in psychiatric settings,it is not well recognised. Akagi and Kumar (p 1506) report threepatients who improved when the offending drug was discontinued.They suggest that on diagnosis the offending or suspected drugshould be withdrawn or the dose reduced. When this is not possiblepropranolol or other lipophilic blockers are considered to bethe most effective.

(Credit: MEPL)