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Tardive dyskinesia is a neurological syndrome caused by long-term use of neuroleptics and other medications, resulting in involuntary and repetitive body movements. Symptoms often occur in the facial muscles, but can also affect the trunk, legs, and arms. Treatment varies by person and may include lowering the dose of the drug or prescribing a sedative, beta-blocker, or narcotic supplement.
Tardive dyskinesia is a neurological syndrome often identified by symptoms such as involuntary and repetitive body movements. Long-term use of neuroleptics and other medications causes the movement disorder. Psychiatrists and neurologists usually diagnose tardive dyskinesia, and treatment varies by person.
Involuntary movement disorder is also identified as drug-induced dyskinesia and chronic dyskinesia if the condition worsens. According to health experts, tardive means “retarded” and dyskinesia means “abnormal movement.” Tardive dyskinesia develops over a period of months to years. Some risk factors for developing tardive dyskinesia include alcohol and drug abuse, old age, and disability or mental illness.
Tardive dyskinesia symptoms often occur in the facial muscles, but also affect the trunk, legs, and arms. Repetitive and involuntary movements of the lips, jaw and tongue are among the most common symptoms. Patients with this involuntary movement disorder may often wince, stick out their tongue, blink rapidly, or smack or purs their lips. Swaying of the hips or trunk, as well as involuntary movements of the legs and arms, are also associated with the movement disorder. Examples include marching in place, twisting the ankles, or moving the fingers as if playing a piano or guitar.
Long-term use of neuroleptics, antipsychotics, and similar drugs causes various side effects, including tardive dyskinesia. Neuroleptic drugs usually treat psychotic, neurological, and gastrointestinal disorders. Antipsychotic prescriptions, which treat patients with schizophrenia, also produce the side effect of movement disorder. Medical experts also note that some antidepressant prescriptions can cause tardive dyskinesia to develop.
The scientific mechanisms underlying the condition have not been confirmed. According to research, antipsychotic and related drugs are thought to increase D2 receptors, or proteins, in the part of the brain that controls muscle coordination. Overproduction of these receptors eventually causes involuntary movements or twitches in the body.
A doctor, especially a neurologist or psychiatrist, diagnoses movement disorder based on the history of prescribed medication. Doctors also evaluate symptoms to confirm tardive dyskinesia or another problem. Conditions such as a neurodegenerative brain disease share similar symptoms of drug-induced dyskinesia.
Treatment for movement disorder depends on individual medical needs. Your neurologist or psychiatrist may lower your dose of the drug or stop it to reduce your symptoms. Changing to a new drug can also reduce the symptoms of chronic dyskinesia. If a patient cannot stop taking the drug causing the involuntary movements, the doctor may prescribe a sedative, beta-blocker, or narcotic supplement to that drug to reduce symptoms.
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