There is a disorder involving abnormal, uncontrollable as well as repetitive movements of a person's torso, face as well as other body parts. It is known as Tardive dyskinesia (TD). It is disruptive to a person's life and negatively impacts all who suffer from it. Those with TD can also experience involuntary tongue movements, blinking, and more. They find these movements uncontrollable as well as unintentional. The number of people in the United States who suffer from TD is estimated to be approximately 500,000. The signs and symptoms of TD can be experienced by a person as early as three months after they begin taking the medications responsible for it. The longer a person takes any of these drugs, their chances of developing TD increases. It is a condition that can be experienced by both children and adults. It is more common among adults as antidepressants and antipsychotics are usually prescribed for adults.
Causes Of Tardive Dyskinesia
Antidepressants and antipsychotics are designed to block a chemical in the brain. These drugs help cells communicate and help the muscles move easily. When someone has too little produced from the brain, their movements will start being jerky and out of control. It is common for an individual to experience the symptoms of TD within three months after taking certain medications. There have been cases where people have started to experience the symptoms after only a few doses or even a single dose. There are some drugs designed to treat reflux, nausea as well as other problems that affect a person's stomach. Using drugs to counteract these stomach issues can also result in individuals developing TD if they’re taken for longer than three months. Certain people are more likely to develop TD. These include:
- Individuals belong to specific racial groupings
- Women who have gone through menopause
- Individuals who abuse alcohol or drugs
- Individuals who are over the age of 55
Symptoms of Tardive Dyskinesia
It is common for people to develop the symptoms of TD after taking a particular medication for several months. TD is often something that can also start within a shorter time frame. It may occur as a delayed side effect that doesn't start until after the medication responsible for causing it is discontinued. There are common symptoms of TD.
- Turning or twisting of the trunk or neck
- Puckering of the mouth or other lip movements
- Writhing of the feet, fingers, or hands
- Face twisting or grimacing movements
- Teeth clenching or jaw movements
- Lip smacking
- Opening eyes wide, rapid blinking or firmly closing eyelids
It is also common for people who have TD to be hypokinetic. This is slower than normal movements. It is also possible for people to have both symptoms. These are movements that can last only a few seconds or could go on for several minutes. Many of them can occur within a short time.
Treatment Options
Treating individuals who have TD is challenging. One of the first steps is to taper down and eliminate the drug causing the symptoms. This is difficult when someone is suffering from a severe psychiatric illness. The symptoms can become worse for a period of time after the problem medication is eliminated. There are alternative options which can block the chemical produced by the brain, but are not necessarily as effective. The goal will be to provide a blocker or depleting agent so the risk for TD is decreased and not cause new TD symptoms to occur. Should a blocker or depleting agent not be completely successful, the individual can have it supplemented with AMPT.
Resolving problems with TD will require physicians to work with patients and provide them with a comprehensive approach. Eliminating the responsible medication or using medications that can be used with other types of treatment. This will often involve supportive care as well as patient education. Physical therapy and specially designed braces can help improve posture and eliminate contractions. Success has also been achieved utilizing various muscle relaxation techniques. Another successful treatment is sensory feedback therapy. It is always important for people to work with their health care providers to discover what can be done about their TD and not disrupt their necessary medication routine.
