Akathisia + severe insomnia — looking for advice from people who’ve been through this
I’m really struggling and would appreciate advice from anyone who has experienced akathisia, especially medication-induced akathisia.
My akathisia and severe insomnia started about 3 months ago while I was taking Seroquel (quetiapine). I ended up quitting Seroquel cold turkey, and I’m wondering if that may have contributed to or worsened what I’m experiencing.
Since then, I’ve been having a constant feeling of needing to move and an inability to physically relax or sleep normally.
I switched doctors and was prescribed benztropine and clonidine, but unfortunately neither has been giving me much relief. I’ve also tried magnesium, vitamin B6, propranolol, and cannabis edibles. So far, nothing has really helped.
The scary part is that alcohol is the only thing that seems to give me significant temporary relief, and I really don’t want to rely on alcohol to manage this or develop another problem because of it.
I’m exhausted from the insomnia and the constant restlessness. I’m looking for advice from people who have actually experienced akathisia:
What treatments or medications helped you?
Did anything help with the insomnia specifically?
How long did your akathisia last?
Did it eventually go away after stopping the medication that triggered it?
Is there anything I should ask my doctor about?
I’m not looking for a medical diagnosis from Reddit. I'm just hoping to hear from people who have been through this and found something that helped. I’m honestly desperate for some direction right now.