A syndrome characterized by an inability to remain in a sitting posture, with motor restlessness and a feeling of muscular quivering; may appear as a side effect of antipsychotic and neuroleptic medication. SYN: acathisia. [G. a- priv. + kathisis, a sitting]
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aka·thi·sia also aca·thi·sia .ā-ka-'thizh-(ē-)ə, .a-, -'thēzh- n a condition characterized by uncontrollable motor restlessness
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n.
a pattern of involuntary movements induced by antipsychotic drugs, such as phenothiazines. An affected person is driven to restless overactivity, which can be confused with the agitation for which the drug was originally prescribed.
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ak·a·this·ia (ak″ə-thĭґzhə) [a-1 + Gr. kathisis a sitting down + -ia] a condition of motor restlessness in which there is a feeling of muscular quivering, an urge to move about constantly, and an inability to sit still, a common extrapyramidal side effect of neuroleptic drugs.Medical dictionary. 2011.