Tardive dyskinesia is a neurological disorder that results from the extended use of antipsychotic drugs. The word 'tardive' refers to the fact that the disorder has a slow or late onset, producing involuntary movements in the person months or even years after beginning certain medications. The symptoms are typically grimacing, lip smacking, eye blinking, or other repetitive, purposeless movements.
Tardive dyskinesia is an extrapyramidal symptom, or movement disorder. Though there are several theories about the cause of these disorders, they all agree that the antipsychotic drugs, such as those used to treat schizophrenia, change the chemistry of the brain and result in the involuntary movements. While it's hard to predict if tardive dyskinesia will affect an individual, due to its late-developing nature, people who have taken certain medications, particularly the first generation of antipsychotic medications, have a higher risk.
There are other medical and neurological conditions that can cause similar symptoms to tardive dyskinesia, so a long history of antipsychotic medications must be documented before a medical professional considers a diagnosis of the condition. While antipsychotic medications can do a lot of good for people suffering from mental disorders, there is the increased risk of developing this movement disorder.
People who have a high risk factor for developing tardive dyskinesia:
While it's difficult to tell who will develop tardive dyskinesia, some studies have suggested that 5% of people who take antipsychotics will experience the movement disorder.
As with many medical problems, the best way to treat tardive dyskinesia is through prevention. Any person taking psychiatric medications should visit their prescribing doctor frequently, and the doctor will check for tell-tale signs. Most psychiatrists use a standardized rating scale called 'The Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale' (AIMS) to check their patients at least once a year. If the doctor notices any abnormalities, the disorder may be stopped before it can start.
Psychiatrists will usually lower the dosage of antipsychotic medications in order to relieve their patients of any beginning symptoms. Sometimes they may also switch medications. However, there is currently no medication that cures tardive dyskinesia.
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