Tardive dyskinesia
Tardive dyskinesia, commonly abbreviated as TD, is a potentially permanent movement disorder resulting from long-term use of antipsychotic drugs such as Haloperidol (Haldol) or chlorpromazine (Thorazine).
Symptoms
A variety of symptoms are associated with TD, including (but not limited to)-
- Repetitive, pointless, abnormal facial movements, such as lip smacking and tongue protrusion.
- Rapid eye blinking.
- Rapid movements of the arms and legs.
- Any combination of the aforementioned symptoms.
Treatment
There is currently no established treatment for tardive dyskinesia, though multiple drugs have been studied. Among the tested drugs include benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium), though research concluded these to be ineffective.
Cause
The cause of tardive dyskinesia, and much of its associated pathology, remains undiscovered. One theory is that it is related to damage done to the brain's dopamine system, which is the target system of antipsychotic drugs.
Additional notes
The longer a person is on an antipsychotic drug, the risk of TD is believed to increase. Also, though symptoms are most prominent in the face, they can occur in any area with muscle tissue.
