Tardive dyskinesia

Tardive dyskinesia is a neurological disorder caused by neuroleptic (anti-psychotic) drugs prescribed to treat psychiatric and gastrointestinal conditions. Tardive dyskinesia is often more prevalent in people with schizophrenia, for which these drugs are used to treat. This movement disorder is characterized by purposeless, uncontrolled, and repetitive movements. Grimacing, sticking out the tongue, lip smacking, pursing, and puckering, rapid eye blinking, and involuntary finger movements are characteristic of tardive dyskinesia.

Studies indicate that 15 to 30 percent of those who take neuroleptics for a long period of time. The prevalence of tardive dyskinesia also appears to be higher among smokers. Unlike some drug side effects like-- akathisia, dystonia, and Parkinsonism-- that take only a few hours to days to develop, tardive dyskinesia typically develops after months or years of use. Factors that can increase one’s risk of developing tardive dyskinesia include older age, being female, alcoholism and substance abuse, and mental retardation.

Newer antipsychotic drugs—risperdone, olanzapine, quetiapine, and ziprasidone—are associated with a significantly lower risk of tardive dyskinesia compared to older antipsychotic medications. According to pharmaceutical studies, people taking newer antipsychotics have less than a one percent chance of developing tardive dyskinesia. Geriatric patients have a less than three percent chance of developing tardive dyskinesia.

Tardive dyskinesia often affects the facial muscles though it commonly affects other muscle groups as well. The muscles of the limbs and trunk may be affected or the entire body may sway as a result of tardive dyskinesia. In rare cases, tardive dyskinesia may affect the respiratory muscles which can cause a person to grunt or have trouble breathing.

It is important for medical professionals to rule out similar conditions before diagnosing a person with tardive dyskinesia. There are a number of neurodegenerative diseases that may cause similar symptoms. Other movement disorders may be mistaken for tardive dyskinesia.

Tardive dyskinesia treatment is often aided by terminating or reducing use of the antipsychotic medication. This can be difficult, if not impossible, when a person’s condition does not allow for a change in medication use. Sometimes switching to another medication can be beneficial. Before changing or terminating any medication it is important to speak with your physician. In many cases, the symptoms of tardive dyskinesia continue after medication is terminated, while other cases are reversible. Use of some medications can also reduce symptoms of tardive dyskinesia.