What are the
Characteristics of Tardive Dyskinesia?
*Tardive
dyskinesia is a neurological syndrome caused by the long-term use of
neuroleptic drugs. It is ususally irreversible. * It
characterized by repetitive, involuntary, and purposeless muscle
contractions *Features
of the disorder may include grimacing, tongue protrusion, lip smacking,
puckering and pursing, and rapid eye blinking. Rapid movements of the
arms, legs, and trunk may also occur. Fingers may move involuntarily in
an impaired fashion, sometimes seeming as though the patient is
playing an invisible guitar or piano.
What is the Treatmen for Tardive
Dyskenisia ?
*There is no
standard treatment for tardive dyskinesia and patients are treated on
an individual basis. *The first step is
generally to stop the administration of teh drug or to
minimize the dose *Symptoms of
tardive dyskinesia may remain long after discontinuation of
antipyshcotics, depending on the pateint, the type of drug and the dose
that was being used. * With careful
management, some symptoms may improve and/or disappear with time.