Acute Akathisia Associated With Quetiapine Use

Because of their better side-effect profile, atypical antipsychotic agents have replaced conventional antipsychotic agents as the first-line treatment for schizophrenia. Although atypical agents are less likely to be associated with extrapyramidal symptoms, such symptoms sometimes do occur in patients treated with atypical agents. The authors report the cases of two patients who developed akathisia after treatment with quetiapine for insomnia, consider previously reported cases of akathisia induced by atypical antipsychotic agents, discuss other medications that can induce similar symptoms, discuss treatments for akathisia, and examine issues in the use of quetiapine as a soporific agent.