Posted by Sunnely on November 2, 2000, at 0:42:21
In reply to Q? restless legs=leg bouncing?, posted by tenuous on November 1, 2000, at 5:20:52
> Just wondering if "restless legs" is when you find yourself bouncing your leg up and down off your toes whenever you sit down?
Hi Tenuous,
Another possibility is "akathisia." Both antipsychotics and antidepressants can cause this condition. Incidentally, the word "akathisia" came from the Greek word which means "not to sit"; "a" = absence and "kathis" = sitting still.
The motor restlessness in drug-induced akathisia predominantly involves the legs and feet, less commonly arms and trunk. On the other hand, motor restlessness in restless legs syndrome (RLS) is restricted to the legs, in most cases. Abnormal sensations in legs such as "pins and needles," "creeping and crawling," "aching," "burning," or "coldness" are usually absent in drug-induced akathisia, whereas they may be present in RLS. Myoclonic jerks are uncommon in drug-induced akathisia, but common in RLS (e.g., repetitive flexing of the hips, knees, ankles, and toes). Insomnia is uncommon (mild if present) with drug-induced akathisia but common and often severe with RLS (more number of awakenings; decreased sleep efficiency; prolonged sleep onset latencies; prolonged REM onset latencies; decreased in REM sleep). There is no diurnal pattern with the motor restlessness in drug-induced akathisia (less severe at night), whereas these symptoms are usually worse or exclusively in the evenings in RLS. Motor restlessness is worse on standing (leads to pacing, body rocking, marching-in-place, leg jiggling), with some relief on lying in drug-induced akathisia, whereas it is worse on lying in RLS. Motor restlessness may begin anytime after administration of offending drug, whereas with RLS, may begin in childhood to senescence, often progressive (severe after 50 years of age), but there may be spontaneous remissions. There is usually no family history in drug-induced akathisia, whereas this has been reported with RLS (autosomal dominant).
poster:Sunnely
thread:47834
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001022/msgs/47982.html