Tardive Dyskinesia Treatment

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.

The challenge of Tardive Dyskinesia treatment is there is yet to be an effective method of treating Tardive Dyskinesia. There is an absence of a standard Tardive Dyskinesia treatment, for a lack of options as well as because Tardive Dyskinesia treatment is very individual. Especially when doctors do not wish for the neuroleptics to be discontinued, Tardive Dyskinesia treatment can become an increasingly difficult method to find.

The first step in effectively treating Tardive Dyskinesia is to completely discontinue the use of the neuroleptics, or at least reduce the dosage. There will be instances that the Tardive Dyskinesia will worsen despite stopping neuroleptic drugs. Some patients may have more success with an alternative to neuroleptics and with behavioral management some schizophrenic cases may respond well. Depending on the individual, there may not be a Tardive Dyskinesia treatment that will better manage the involuntary body movements.

Even when neuroleptics are stopped, the patient should not assume this would result in a successful Tardive Dyskinesia treatment. Symptoms of Tardive Dyskinesia can last for a long time after stopping neuroleptics but can improve and diminish over time if careful Tardive Dyskinesia treatment is continued. Some patients will find Tardive Dyskinesia treatments by taking other drugs, however all drugs of risks and side effects.

Natural supplements have been tried and tested by patients hoping to find a remedy for Tardive Dyskinesia treatment without risking further health complications. Some patients have used:

• Bioflavonoids
• Ginkgo Biloba
• Gotu Kola
• Kava Kava
• Lecithin
• Multi vitamins
• Niacin
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E

(Tardive Dyskinesia patients should first discuss any and all Tardive Dyskinesia treatment plans with a qualified medical expert.)

There is still a lack of information available on Tardive Dyskinesia and research is still being performed in order to better understand the disorder in order to find a way to treat, prevent, and hopefully cure Tardive Dyskinesia. Unfortunately, many instances of Tardive Dyskinesia may become a permanent side effect of the neuroleptics.

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.

According to the director of the Movement Disorders and Molecular Psychiatric Division of the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research commented that “patients using the product experienced significant improvement, with minimal side effects.” For years, patients were using antipsychotics (neuroleptics) under the pretenses that it was safe as a long-term or lifetime drug. Instead, neuroleptic-using patients ended up suffering Tardive Dyskinesia and other effects.
For more information on Tardive Dyskinesia and neuroleptic use, contact us to confer with a Tardive Dyskinesia lawyer.