October 17, 2011

Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with tardive dyskinesia or have a loved one who suffers from tardive dyskinesia, it can be difficult to find many answers about the neurological syndrome, even though it was first identified in 1964.

Here’s some helpful information about tardive dyskinesia from The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

What It Is: “Tardive dyskinesia is a neurological syndrome caused by the long-term use of neuroleptic drugs. Neuroleptic drugs are generally prescribed for psychiatric disorders, as well as for some gastrointestinal and neurological disorders. Tardive dyskinesia is characterized by repetitive, involuntary, purposeless movements. Features of the disorder may include grimacing, tongue protrusion, lip smacking, puckering and pursing, and rapid eye blinking. Rapid movements of the arms, legs, and trunk may also occur. Involuntary movements of the fingers may be present.”

Treatment: “Treatment is highly individualized. The first step is generally to stop or minimize the use of the neuroleptic drug, but this can be done only under close supervision of the physician. However, for patients with a severe underlying condition this may not be a feasible option. Replacing the neuroleptic drug with substitute drugs may help some individuals. The only approved drug treatment for tardive dyskenesia is tetrabenazine, which is usually effective but can have side effects that need to be discussed prior to starting therapy.  Other drugs such as benzodiazepines, clozapine, or botulinum toxin injections also may be tried.”

Prognosis: “Symptoms of tardive dyskinesia may remain long after discontinuation of neuroleptic drugs.  In many cases, the symptoms stop spontaneously, but in some cases they may persist indefinitely.”

Research: “The NINDS conducts and supports a broad range of research on movement disorders including tardive dyskinesia. The goals of this research are to improve understanding of these disorders and to discover ways to treat, prevent, and, ultimately, cure them.”

Read more.

Do you suffer from tardive dyskinesia? What’s your experience with the syndrome been like?

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