Tardive Dyskinesia Symptoms

Tardive Dyskinesia symptoms are evident by the abnormal and involuntary movements affecting the tongue, jaw, trunk, or other bodily limbs. Almost always caused by medications, Tardive Dyskinesia is considered a movement disorder. In as little as just a few weeks after beginning neuroleptic treatment individuals can begin to display Tardive Dyskinesia symptoms, though it was initially believed antipsychotics were safe for long-term use.

Neuroleptic induced Tardive Dyskinesia symptoms will develop during the drug treatment or within a month of withdrawing from a neuroleptic medication. If neuroleptic use is completely withdrawn, some Tardive Dyskinesia patients will experience a stabilization of Tardive Dyskinesia symptoms that can slowly improve for some patients. The most Tardive Dyskinesia symptom improvement will usually occur within the first months after discontinuing neuroleptic treatment.

The Tardive Dyskinesia symptoms can be observed in varying states. A Tardive Dyskinesia patient may suffer Tardive Dyskinesia symptoms that are choreiform, athetoid, or rhythmic. Choreiform neuroleptic induced Tardive Dyskinesia symptoms will be displayed as rapid, jerky, nonrepetitive movements and athetoid will be displayed as slow and continual.

General Classic Tardive Dyskinesia Symptoms

• Repetitive convulsive movements like chewing, licking, grasping, and other normal resembled actions.
• Monotonously repeating repetitive Tardive Dyskinesia movements with a low frequency.
• Tardive Dyskinesia patients are often unaware of their movements.
• Voluntary movements of non-affected muscle groups activate Tardive Dyskinesia movements.
• Tardive Dyskinesia patients lack a subjective feeling of inner restlessness.
• Tardive Dyskinesia symptoms are often reduced when drowsy or sedated and are unobservable while sleeping.

There are commonly individual Tardive Dyskinesia symptoms that can occur in the face, trunk, and other extremities. In most instances, these Tardive Dyskinesia symptoms will appear in certain ways.

Face

• The tongue will often protrude, have vermicular contraction, or make a “bonbon sign”.
• The jaw will often make a vertical or horizontal chewing movement.
• Eyebrow distortion
• Frowning
• Eye blinking

Trunk

• Hip rocking
• Irregular diaphragm contractions
• Head nodding
• Rocking the upper torso
• Shoulder shrugging

Extremities

• Fingers make piano playing movements
• Wrists will make rotatory and flexion movements
• Legs will make stamping movements

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.

Most Tardive Dyskinesia symptoms will be improved the greatest during the first months after discontinuing neuroleptic medication. Once Tardive Dyskinesia has occurred, there are few ways to treat the disorder. There is yet to be an effective Tardive Dyskinesia treatment and some people will have irreversible Tardive Dyskinesia problems.

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