Symptoms: Akathisia, brain zaps, emotional blunting, sexual dysfunction, cognitive impairment, insomnia, depersonalization/derealization, suicidal ideation, tinnitus, neuropathy, severe anxiety/panic, muscle/joint pain, GI disturbances, 100+ symptoms in acute
At 21, I got akathisia from a stemetil IV but didn’t know what it was. I was misdx with GAD and panic disorder…for almost 3 decades I was medicated with ssri’s, stacked with zoplicone and then Vyvanse. I was crashed off Lexapro by my dr in 2024 and it landed me in severe acute akathisia, was subsequently crashed off the other two meds as well. I had it for 8 months 24/7…hellish windows and waves since. …I remember this torturous feeling from the IV when I was 21. Im 49. Over the decades, the akathisia would fight out, during med changes, antibiotics etc. I have lost everything this time around, my relationship, home, car, job, solvency, friends, connection…and almost my life.
In the 8 months of acute akathisia, I had over 100+ torturous symptoms…they have been slowly dropping since and am at the 2 year mark. I didn’t know what I had until the 5th month of akathisia in 2024, I was poly’d with over a dozen meds. When I found out what this was, I ran from the system. The why’s of the last three decades, crashed in. I am no longer bedbound but am still homebound living with my 75 year old parents. No validation, no help, vitamins etc hurt so I literally can’t even take a Tylenol.
I have survived, but at what cost? I am typing this with what I call resthellness in me; the word restlessness is a pure insult. Pharma knows this exists…I have seen too many not make it and they are recorded as numbers. This is a world wide suicide epidemic and I am traumatized beyond recognition.