What is tardive dyskinesia and why might it cause someone to stop taking typical antipsychotic medication?

Tardive dyskinesia is a side effect of antipsychotic medications. These drugs are used to treat schizophrenia and other mental health disorders. TD causes stiff, jerky movements of your face and body that you can’t control.

How long should an antipsychotic medication be continued before you consider modifying the medication regimen?

After symptom remission, continuation of antipsychotic treatment is associated with lower relapse rates and lower symptom severity compared to dose reduction/discontinuation. Therefore, most guidelines recommend continuation of treatment with antipsychotic medication for at least 1 year.

Which drug can cause tardive dyskinesia as an adverse effect?

Antipsychotic drugs known as neuroleptics are the most common cause of tardive dyskinesia. These drugs are also called dopamine receptor antagonists.

How long does it take for tardive dyskinesia to develop?

The symptoms of TD usually first appear after 1–2 years of continuous exposure to a DRBA and almost never before 3 months. Severity of TD ranges from mild involuntary movements often unnoticed by a patient to a disabling condition.

What is the difference between dystonia and tardive dyskinesia?

Tardive dyskinesia causes involuntary movements most commonly in areas of the face, eyes, and mouth. Dystonia, on the other hand, leads to involuntary muscular contractions that can affect the head, face, and neck.

Does tardive dystonia go away?

Tardive dystonia is a more taxing condition as it can be permanent. Occasionally, symptoms do disappear but unfortunately this is rare (around 1 in 10 cases).

Which patient taking antipsychotic medications is at greatest risk for developing tardive dyskinesia?

About 60\% to 70\% of cases are mild, and about 3\% are extremely severe. Particularly at risk are patients who have been treated for schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder.