Health Encyclopedia

Tardive dyskinesia

Definition

Tardive dyskinesia is a disorder that involves involuntary movements, especially of the lower face. Tardive means "delayed" and dyskinesia means "abnormal movement."

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Tardive dyskinesia is a serious side effect that occurs when you take medications called neuroleptics. It occurs most frequently when the medications are taken for a long time, but in some cases it can also occur after you take them for a short amount of time.

The drugs that most commonly cause this disorder are older antipsychotic drugs, including:

Haloperidol
Fluphenazine
Trifluoperazine

Other drugs, similar to antipsychotic drugs, that can cause tardive dyskinesia include:

Cinnarizine
Flunarizine (Sibelium)
Metoclopramide

Symptoms

Facial grimacing
Jaw swinging
Repetitive chewing
Tongue thrusting

Expectations (prognosis)

If diagnosed early, the condition may be reversed by stopping the drug that caused the symptoms. Even if the antipsychotic drugs are stopped, the involuntary movements may become permanent and in some cases may become significantly worse.

References

Kompoliti K, Horn SS, eds. Drug-induced and iatrogenic neurological disorders. In: Goetz CG, ed. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 55.

Tardive dyskinesia. In: Moore DP, Jefferson JW, eds. Handbook of Medical Psychiatry. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2004:chap 148.

Review Date:5/24/2009
Reviewed By:Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Maternal & Child Health Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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