Learn About Tardive Dyskinesia

What is the definition of Tardive Dyskinesia?

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a disorder that involves involuntary movements. Tardive means delayed and dyskinesia means abnormal movement.

What are the alternative names for Tardive Dyskinesia?

TD; Tardive syndrome; Orofacial dyskinesia; Involuntary movement - tardive dyskinesia; Antipsychotic drugs - tardive dyskinesia; Neuroleptic drugs - tardive dyskinesia; Schizophrenia - tardive dyskinesia

What are the causes of Tardive Dyskinesia?

TD is a serious side effect that may occur when you take medicines called neuroleptics. These medicines are also called antipsychotics or major tranquilizers. They are used to treat mental health issues.

TD often occurs when you take the medicine for many months or years. In some cases, it occurs after you take them for as little as 6 weeks.

Medicines that most commonly cause this disorder are older antipsychotics, including:

  • Chlorpromazine
  • Fluphenazine
  • Haloperidol
  • Perphenazine
  • Prochlorperazine
  • Trifluoperazine

Newer antipsychotics seem less likely to cause TD, but they are not entirely without risk.

Other medicines that can cause TD include:

  • Metoclopramide (treats stomach problem called gastroparesis)
  • Antidepressant medicines such as amitriptyline, fluoxetine, phenelzine, sertraline, trazodone, lithium
  • Anti-Parkinson medicines such as levodopa
  • Anti-seizure medicines such as phenobarbital and phenytoin
What are the symptoms of Tardive Dyskinesia?

Symptoms of TD include uncontrollable movements of the face and body such as:

  • Facial grimacing (commonly involving lower facial muscles)
  • Finger movement (piano playing movements)
  • Rocking or thrusting of the pelvis (duck-like gait)
  • Jaw swinging
  • Repetitive chewing
  • Rapid eye blinking
  • Tongue thrusting
  • Restlessness
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What are the current treatments for Tardive Dyskinesia?

When TD is diagnosed, your health care provider will either have you stop the medicine slowly or switch to another one.

If TD is mild or moderate, various medicines may be tried to treat it. A dopamine-depleting medicine, tetrabenazine is most effective treatment for TD. Valbenazine is an alternative. Your provider can tell you more about these treatments.

If TD is very severe, a procedure called deep brain stimulation (DBS) may be tried. DBS uses a device called a neurostimulator to deliver electrical signals to the areas of the brain that control movement.

Who are the top Tardive Dyskinesia Local Doctors?
Elite in Tardive Dyskinesia
Elite in Tardive Dyskinesia

Baylor College Of Medicine

7200 Cambridge St, 
Houston, TX 
Languages Spoken:
English
Offers Telehealth

Joseph Jankovic is a Neurologist in Houston, Texas. Dr. Jankovic and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tardive Dyskinesia. His top areas of expertise are Benign Essential Blepharospasm, Drug Induced Dyskinesia, Movement Disorders, Torticollis, and Deep Brain Stimulation.

Elite in Tardive Dyskinesia
Elite in Tardive Dyskinesia

University Medical Service Association Inc

13330 Usf Laurel Dr, 
Tampa, FL 
Experience:
43+ years
Languages Spoken:
English
Accepting New Patients

Robert Hauser is a Neurologist in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Hauser has been practicing medicine for over 43 years and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tardive Dyskinesia. His top areas of expertise are Parkinson's Disease, Movement Disorders, Drug Induced Dyskinesia, and Tardive Dyskinesia. Dr. Hauser is currently accepting new patients.

 
 
 
 
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Elite in Tardive Dyskinesia
Elite in Tardive Dyskinesia

The Emory Clinic Inc

1365 Clifton Rd Ne, 
Atlanta, GA 
Languages Spoken:
English
Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Stewart Factor is a Neurologist in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Factor and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tardive Dyskinesia. His top areas of expertise are Parkinson's Disease, Tardive Dyskinesia, Movement Disorders, Drug Induced Dyskinesia, and Deep Brain Stimulation. Dr. Factor is currently accepting new patients.

What is the outlook (prognosis) for Tardive Dyskinesia?

If diagnosed early, TD may be reversed by stopping the medicine that caused the symptoms. Even if the medicine is stopped, the involuntary movements may become permanent, and in some cases, may become worse.

What are the latest Tardive Dyskinesia Clinical Trials?
Reduction of Demoralization in Patients With Tardive Dyskinesia After Treatment With Valbenazine

Summary: This will be an Investigator-initiated pilot study in which participants will be assessed with various scales to measure demoralization, anxiety, depression, and subjective incompetence at baseline and every two weeks after treatment with Valbenazine for a total of 6 weeks. Improvement in TD will be assessed as well and correlated with reduction in demoralization.

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A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Preliminary Efficacy and Pharmacokinetic Characteristics of Multiple Doses of LPM3770164 Sustained-release Tablets in Patients With Tardive Dyskinesia

Summary: This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, preliminary efficacy and PK characteristics of multiple doses of LPM3770164 sustained-release tablets in TD patients.

Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: June 13, 2024
Published By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the references for this article ?

Aronson JK. Neuroleptic drugs. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 16th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier B.V.; 2016:53-119.

Freudenreich O, Flaherty AW. Patients with abnormal movements. In: Stern TA, Freudenreich O, Smith FA, Fricchione GL, Rosenbaum JF, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of General Hospital Psychiatry. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 21.

Okun MS, Ostrem JL. Other movement disorders. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 379.

Paudel S, Lim C, Freudenreich O. Antipsychotic drugs. In: Stern TA, Wilens TE, Fava M, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 50.

Ul Haq I, Liebenow B, Okun MS. Clinical overview of movement disorders. In: Winn HR, ed. Youmans and Winn Neurological Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 105.