What is Tardive Dyskinesia?

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a disorder  of the central nervous system characterized by involuntary, repetitive muscle contractions. This disorder can affect any part of the  body such as the limbs, neck, trunk, eyelids, facial muscles and vocal cords. 

Research shows that approximately  a third  of all people who use antipsychotic drugs for several years are affected by tardive dyskinesia. Older people and people with mood disorders are more at risk. People who develop Parkinson’s disease are particularly at risk as drugs used to treat this condition are associated with tardive dyskinesia.    

Diagnosing Tardive Dyskinesia

Common features of the disorder include rapid movements of the shoulders, arms, legs and trunk, tongue protrusion, grimacing, lip smacking, puckering and pursing. The eyes may also blink very quickly, and fingers move involuntary – when this occurs it seems as though the person with TD  is playing an invisible piano or guitar. 

During the early stages  of this disorder, the movements may be very subtle (licking of lips  or blinking  of the eyes) and often the person affected as well as the people around him or her may not notice these symptoms. These movements may become noticeable in later stages, and is physically and socially disabling. 

What Causes Tardive Dyskinesia? 

The primary  cause of tardive dyskinesia is the long-term use of anti-psychotic drugs. These drugs are generally prescribed to treat psychiatric disorders  such as schizophrenia, manic depression  and severe depression. Sometimes these types of drugs may also be prescribed for neurological or gastrointestinal disorders. 

Symptoms of tardive dyskinesia may start up again once the medicine has been discontinued. If tardive dyskinesia is managed correctly, symptoms may improve over time. Occasionally, tardive dyskinesia may occur  in people who have never even been treated with anti-psychotic drugs.