Tardive Dyskinesia

The introduction of neuroleptics was seen to have great managing effects for schizophrenic symptoms. The antipsychotic effects neuroleptics provided were believed to be a safe way to help schizophrenic patients without having dangerous effects. Soon, links to Tardive Dyskinesia started to be made, but experts argued neuroleptics were still considered to have greater benefits than risks. Initially, the movement disorder was believed to only occur in patients using neuroleptic treatment for at least two years, but again the experts were mistaken.

Tardive Dyskinesia cases have been documented to occur in patients after just a couple months of beginning neuroleptic drugs. While the actual number of people affected by Tardive Dyskinesia is unknown for sure, the estimates of those affected by the disorder are extremely high. In 1992, the American Psychiatric Association estimated that 15% of patients develop Tardive Dyskinesia within just three years, a surprising number for the many people that believed neuroleptics to be a breakthrough in schizophrenia treatment.

Tardive Dyskinesia and the use of antipsychotic (neuroleptic) medication have been so controversial because the high number of neuroleptic medication choices and the many patients still unaware that there is a Tardive Dyskinesia risk. Despite the studies performed linking the use of neuroleptics to Tardive Dyskinesia, there is still little known. For more information on antipsychotic neuroleptic medications and Tardive Dyskinesia contact us to confer with a Tardive Dyskinesia lawyer.

What is Tardive Dyskinesia?

Tardive, meaning late and dyskinesias being movement disorders are neurological side effects of antipsychotic medications that can be disabling and disfiguring. It was believed that newer antipsychotic drugs did not have as high of a Tardive Dyskinesia risk, however the atypical antipsychotics have been linked to hyperglycemia and diabetes. Tardive Dyskinesia is still a risk of atypical antipsychotics, especially when used in higher dosages. The FDA has requested all atypical antipsychotics carry a new labeling warning of hyperglycemia and diabetes.

Early detection of Tardive Dyskinesia symptoms is critical in reducing the severity of the often irreversible disorder, but it has been found that Tardive Dyskinesia patients rarely identify early warning signs, especially since the involuntary movements do not cause physical discomfort. For more information on neuroleptics and Tardive Dyskinesia contact us to confer with a Tardive Dyskinesia lawyer.

Tardive Dyskinesia Lawyer

A high incidence of Tardive Dyskinesia has been estimated to have affected the over two million U.S. schizophrenia patients using neuroleptic medications to manage symptoms. Despite this, there is still an absence of real research on the links between Tardive Dyskinesia and neuroleptics.

The growing belief that there is a prescription drug to help cure any ailment has been in response to the competitive pharmaceutical industry according to critics. The increase in drug advertising has been attributed to the reduction of consumer awareness by under emphasizing the risks and possible side effects and over emphasizing the drugs benefits, regardless of how minimal they may be. Neuroleptics have dangerous effects like Tardive Dyskinesia but many patients are still unaware of the serious risks.

For more information on Tardive Dyskinesia and neuroleptics contact us to confer with a Tardive Dyskinesia lawyer.

Tardive Dyskinesia Side Effects

Tardive Dyskinesia symptoms exist not only in physical movements but there are also psychosocial and physical impairments caused as a result. There may be feelings of embarrassment and guilt, shame, depression, and social withdrawal that Tardive Dyskinesia patients will experience. Personal relationships and professional involvements can become difficult to maintain due to the Tardive Dyskinesia movements that can be observed as abnormal, having an emotionally negative impact on the Tardive Dyskinesia patient.

Physically, Tardive Dyskinesia can create other problems that make it even more difficult to manage living with the Tardive Dyskinesia. Denture problems, tongue ulcerations, and difficulty swallowing can often occur alongside Tardive Dyskinesia. There are also instances of dysarthria, respiratory disturbances, gastrointestinal disturbances, motor function difficulty, fixed postures, and the possibility of increased mortality.

History of Tardive Dyskinesia

Tardive Dyskinesia was first brought to the attention of the medical community by a psychiatrist George Crane in 1973 after he had been witnessing Tardive Dyskinesia cases in neuroleptic patients. These documentations were not further examined and neuroleptic drugs continued to be heavily promoted and was even credited with reducing the number of mental hospital inpatients. Mental hospital numbers were not reduced until almost ten years after neuroleptic medications were being administered, also at the same time the federal government began to provide disability insurance coverage for mental disorders.

Tardive Dyskinesia Treatment

A study published in the June 2003 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry found that TARVIL, a medical food, has been effective in treating male Tardive Dyskinesia patients. The product reduced the amount of abnormal, involuntary body movements as much as 86% in some Tardive Dyskinesia patients. TARVIL is a powdered drink mix with a pineapple flavor and must be administered under the supervision of a doctor three times a day with the dosage dependent upon the Tardive Dyskinesia patient’s body weight and medical condition.

For more information on Tardive Dyskinesia and neuroleptics contact us to confer with a Tardive Dyskinesia lawyer.

Tardive Dyskinesia Prevalence

According to studies, Tardive Dyskinesia develops in 15 – 20% of antipsychotic (neuroleptic) patients using the drugs for several years. There are estimates that Tardive Dyskinesia affects around 1 million Americans.

Neuroleptic Induced Tardive Dyskinesia Symptom Movements

Tardive Dyskinesia movements can be classified in three different ways, depending on the symptom development of the Tardive Dyskinesia patient.