From the Guidelines
Tardive dyskinesia is characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements that typically affect the face, mouth, and tongue, but can also involve the trunk and extremities, with common symptoms including lip smacking, grimacing, tongue protrusion, rapid eye blinking, and jaw movements, as noted in a study published in 2016 1. The symptoms of tardive dyskinesia can be diverse and may include:
- Involuntary facial movements, such as blinking, grimacing, chewing, or tongue movements
- Extremity or truncal movements, which can be rhythmic and purposeless
- Rhythmic movements of the arms, legs, fingers, and toes
- Swaying motions of the trunk These movements are often without the patient's control or awareness and can occur after months or years of medication use, particularly with dopamine receptor blocking agents like first-generation antipsychotics, but can also occur with second-generation antipsychotics and certain antiemetics like metoclopramide, as discussed in a study from 2001 1. The condition typically emerges after long-term use of these medications, though it can occasionally appear after shorter periods or even after discontinuation of the causative medication, with risk factors including older age, female gender, longer duration of medication use, and higher medication doses, as highlighted in a study published in 2016 1. It is essential to consult a healthcare provider immediately if these symptoms are noticed while taking antipsychotics or other dopamine-blocking medications, rather than stopping medication abruptly, to minimize potential harm and ensure proper management, as emphasized in a study from 2001 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The syndrome consists of potentially irreversible, involuntary, dyskinetic movements. The symptoms of tardive dyskinesia are characterized by involuntary, dyskinetic movements.
- The movements are potentially irreversible. Key points to consider are:
- Dyskinetic movements are a hallmark of the condition.
- The condition can develop after relatively brief treatment periods at low doses 2. No further information is available to fully answer the question.
From the Research
Symptoms of Tardive Dyskinesia
The symptoms of tardive dyskinesia include:
- Involuntary hyperkinetic movements, typically characterized by choreoathetoid dyskinesias in the orofacial, limb, and truncal regions 3
- Subtypes of this syndrome may include:
- Tardive dystonia, characterized by sustained, stereotyped muscle spasms of a twisting or turning character 4
- Tardive akathisia, characterized by an inner sense of restlessness or unease, often accompanied by repetitive, purposeless movements (stereotypies) 4
- Less common tardive syndromes, such as tardive myoclonus, tardive tourettism, and tardive tremor 4
- Irregular, stereotyped, and choreiform movements associated with the use of antipsychotic medication 5
- Involuntary, repetitive, purposeless movements that are present throughout the body 6
Characteristics of Tardive Dyskinesia
Tardive dyskinesia is a movement disorder that:
- Develops after exposure to dopamine receptor blocking agents, such as antipsychotics 4
- Can be permanent, despite discontinuing the responsible medication 4
- Often is a source of great distress and disability to patients 4
- Typically develops after chronic exposure to dopamine receptor blocking agents, but can develop rapidly after treatment 4