The Relatioiship Between the Changes of Iron Metabolism and Akathisia Scores in Patients Taking Neuroleptic Drugs

Akathisia is an important side effect which specifically appears in the administration of conventional neuroleptics. Etiopatogenesis of akathisia has not been defined completely so far. However, it is thought that some defects in iron metabolism are related on the emergence of akathisia. Moreover, some contradictory results have been obtained with respect to the studies of iron metabolism. In this study we investigate whether there is a close relationship between serum iron levels and akathisia in those patients with neuroleptic induced akathisia. Neuroleptic induced akathisia appears quite often and severely in the patients with lower serum iron level and percent saturation. It is also indicated that the serum iron levels and percent saturation decreased significantly due to neuroleptic administration in the patients with akathisia. In the light of these results the patients with low serum iron concentration show a considerable tendency can be increased through the decrease of serum iron concentrations by neuroleptics.