Effect of Vitamin B6 versus Propranolol on Antipsychotic-Induced Akathisia: A pilot comparative double-blind study

Background: Akathisia is a common adverse effect of antipsychotic drugs and is characterized by subjective feelings of restlessness. First-line treatment usually consists of propranolol, a beta adrenergic antagonist. However, propranolol does not seem to be efficacious in up to 70% of patients. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin B6 versus propranolol on antipsychotic-induced akathisia (AIA). Methods: This study was a comparative, double-blind, randomized trial. In the present study, 66 adult patients with antipsychotic-induced akathisia were enrolled and randomized into three groups, and received vitamin B6 300mg/12h or 600mg/12h or propranolol 20mg/12h. The diagnosis of AIA was made by clinical examination and its severity was assessed by the Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale. Results: Fifty one patients completed 5days of the trial. The results showed that there was no significant difference in BARS score among the different groups which means that vitamin B6 attenuated the AIA similar to propranolol. However there wasn’t any significant difference between high or low dose of vitamin B6. Conclusion: In conclusion, the results of this trial suggest that vitamin B6 may be beneficial for ameliorating of antipsychotic-induced akathisia.