Tardive Dyskinesia

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KEY POINTS

• Tardive dyskinesia is muscle movements that you can’t control. It is usually caused by the long-term use of antipsychotic medicines.
• Your healthcare provider may change how much or how often you take your medicine, or change the medicine you have been taking. Your healthcare provider may prescribe a medicine to treat your symptoms.

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What is tardive dyskinesia?

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is muscle movements that you can’t control caused by the long-term use of antipsychotic medicines. These medicines may be prescribed to treat:

• Hearing and seeing things that are not there
• False beliefs
• Mood swings
• Thinking that people are out to get you
• Getting overly excited, anxious, or angry for no reason
• Severe obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), in which you constantly think about something that causes anxiety or do certain actions over and over to help control the anxiety
• Depression

What is the cause?

Certain medicines may cause TD by changing the balance of chemicals in the brain. Newer antipsychotic medicines are less likely to cause TD.

You are most at risk of developing TD if you take antipsychotic medicine and you:

• Have taken it for a long time
• Are taking high doses
• Have recently stopped taking the medicine

What are the symptoms?

TD causes muscle movements that you can’t control such as:

• Tongue thrusting, lip smacking, pursing your lips, or making chewing movements
• Making faces
• Rocking back and forth or thrusting your hips
• Rotating your ankles or legs
• Marching in place
• Irregular breathing
• Frequent humming or grunting

Symptoms may start a few months to several years after you start taking these medicines.

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider or therapist will ask about your symptoms, medical and family history, and any medicines you are taking. He will make sure you do not have a medical illness or drug or alcohol problem that could cause the symptoms. You may have tests or scans to help make a diagnosis. You may need to have more than one exam, because symptoms may come and go.

How is it treated?

Your healthcare provider may change how much or how often you take your medicine, or change the medicine you have been taking. Your healthcare provider may prescribe a medicine to treat your symptoms. Talk with your healthcare provider about taking vitamins. Do not change how much you take or stop taking any prescribed medicine unless your healthcare provider has given you instructions to do so.

You may keep having symptoms of TD long after you stop taking the medicine that caused them. Some symptoms may improve or go away over time.

How can I take care of myself?

• Get support. Talk with family and friends. Join a support group in your area.
• Learn to manage stress. Ask for help at home and work when the load is too great to handle. Find ways to relax. For example take up a hobby, listen to music, watch movies, or take walks. Try yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises when you feel stressed.
• Take care of your physical health. Try to get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Eat a healthy diet. Limit caffeine. If you smoke, quit. Avoid alcohol and drugs because they can make your symptoms worse. Exercise according to your healthcare provider's instructions.
• Check your medicines. To help prevent problems, tell your healthcare provider and pharmacist about all of the medicines, natural remedies, vitamins, and other supplements that you take. Take all medicines as directed by your provider or therapist. It is very important to take your medicine even when you are feeling and thinking well. Without the medicine, your symptoms may not improve or may get worse. Talk to your provider if you have problems taking your medicine or if the medicines don't seem to be working.
• Contact your healthcare provider or therapist if you have any questions or your symptoms seem to be getting worse.

Get emergency care if you or a loved one has serious thoughts of suicide or self-harm, violence, or harming others.