Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMedication CausesSymptomsTreatmentFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Tardive Dyskinesia GuideIs Tardive Dyskinesia Reversible?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Medication Causes
Symptoms
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Tardive Dyskinesia Guide
The medications most commonly associated withtardive dyskinesiainclude antipsychotic medications called neuroleptics. Neuroleptics help treatpsychotic disorders(severe mental health disorders in which a person loses touch with reality) and somemood disorders(like depression and bipolar disorder).
Tardive dyskinesia can also occur as a side effect of some medications used to treat nausea and digestive disorders. This article will discuss which medications are associated with tardive dyskinesia and its symptoms and treatment.
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Medicines That Cause Tardive Dyskinesia
The medications that can cause tardive dyskinesia affect the nervous system. While these medications can be very helpful for treating certain conditions, some of the effects on the nervous system may cause the side effect of tardive dyskinesia.
It’s important to be aware that this side effect does not affect everyone who takes these medications, and there may be some genetic factors that affect the risk.Tardive dyskinesia can be mild, moderate, or severe.
Antipsychotic DrugsTardive dyskinesia affects approximately 15%–30% of people being treated with antipsychotic drugs long term. Each year, about 5.5% of people taking first-generation antipsychotics experience tardive dyskinesia.
Antipsychotic Drugs
Tardive dyskinesia affects approximately 15%–30% of people being treated with antipsychotic drugs long term. Each year, about 5.5% of people taking first-generation antipsychotics experience tardive dyskinesia.
Most Common
Many different medications can cause tardive dyskinesia, but this side effect is most associated with first-generation antipsychotics, also called typical neuroleptics or typical antipsychotics.These medications are used totreat schizophrenia, as well as mood disorders and anxiety.
Examples offirst-generation antipsychoticscausing tardive dyskinesia include:
Less Common
Atypical antipsychotics, which are also described as second-generation antipsychotics, can cause tardive dyskinesia, but this side effect is less common than with first-generation antipsychotics. Additionally, some antidepressants and medications used for neurological disorders, digestive issues, and congestion can cause this side effect.
Examples include:
When you start taking a new medication, check the label to familiarize yourself with the list of side effects.
What Medications Cause Tardive Dyskinesia?
Symptoms of Tardive Dyskinesia
It is not possible to stop the motor symptoms of tardive dyskinesia. Symptoms can be very distressing for people who are experiencing them and for their loved ones. Sometimes people are not aware that they are experiencing tardive dyskinesia.
Some of the most commonsymptoms of tardive dyskinesiainclude repetitive and purposeless involuntary movements of the mouth, face, tongue, and hands.
This can include repeatedly:
Some people may also have a sense of restlessness with tardive dyskinesia. This is often described asakathisia.
More serious symptoms of tardive dyskinesia include:
When to See a Healthcare ProviderIf you or a loved one begins to have signs or symptoms of tardive dyskinesia, tell your healthcare provider right away. The condition is more likely to worsen and persist if it isn’t managed promptly.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you or a loved one begins to have signs or symptoms of tardive dyskinesia, tell your healthcare provider right away. The condition is more likely to worsen and persist if it isn’t managed promptly.
Many mental health conditions can worsen when medication is discontinued or reduced, so a replacement medication may be prescribed as well.
However, this side effect may persist even after the medication is stopped, especially if the medication is a first-generation antipsychotic, if other potentially causative medications were also used, and if the causative medication was used for a long time.
These medications are vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors. They modify the amount of dopamine and other neurotransmitters in the brain to reduce the symptoms of tardive dyskinesia.
Sometimes tardive dyskinesia is treated with other medications off-label. This means that the medications show some benefits for for a certain condition, but they are not FDA approved for this use.
The off-label treatments for tardive dyskinesia each have different chemical actions and include Clozaril (clozapine), Cogentin (benztropine), Gocovri (amantadine), Inderal (propranolol), Keppra (levetiracetam), Klonopin (clonazepam), and Xenazine (tetrabenazine).
Summary
Tardive dyskinesia is a movement disorder that is a side effect of medications, especially first-generation antipsychotics. Less common causes are second-generation antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antiepileptic drugs, movement disorder medications, antiemetics, and decongestants.
Two medications have been approved to treat tardive dyskinesia: Ingrezza (valbenazine) and Austedio (deutetrabenazine). Several others are used off-label.
A Word From Verywell
The effects ofpsychosisand mood disorders can be extremely debilitating. Treatment with counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medication can substantially improve your quality of life.
Some people can also experience tardive dyskinesia, a type of dystonia, as a side effect of the medications used to treat psychiatric and other disorders. Tardive dyskinesia can be distressing, but it is not safe to self-adjust or stop taking these medications.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you experience signs of tardive dyskinesia so you can get prompt medical intervention.
Frequently Asked QuestionsSome risk factors that can make this side effect more likely include having the underlying illness for longer, taking the causative medication for a longer time, older age, underlying brain damage, mood disorders, alcohol or substance misuse, smoking, and other movement disorders.There are no natural remedies for treating tardive dyskinesia. However, lifestyle measures can affect the symptoms. For example, it’s important to take antipsychotic medications as directed to avoid irregularities in drug levels, which could exacerbate symptoms of psychosis as well as the side effect of tardive dyskinesia.Sometimes tardive dyskinesia is reversible. Often, the symptoms continue even after the causative medication is discontinued.The reversibility of this side effect might differ with different causative medications, but research has not fully established the reason why some people experience persistent symptoms, while others improve.Learn MoreCan Tardive Dyskinesia Be Cured?
Some risk factors that can make this side effect more likely include having the underlying illness for longer, taking the causative medication for a longer time, older age, underlying brain damage, mood disorders, alcohol or substance misuse, smoking, and other movement disorders.
There are no natural remedies for treating tardive dyskinesia. However, lifestyle measures can affect the symptoms. For example, it’s important to take antipsychotic medications as directed to avoid irregularities in drug levels, which could exacerbate symptoms of psychosis as well as the side effect of tardive dyskinesia.
Sometimes tardive dyskinesia is reversible. Often, the symptoms continue even after the causative medication is discontinued.The reversibility of this side effect might differ with different causative medications, but research has not fully established the reason why some people experience persistent symptoms, while others improve.Learn MoreCan Tardive Dyskinesia Be Cured?
Sometimes tardive dyskinesia is reversible. Often, the symptoms continue even after the causative medication is discontinued.The reversibility of this side effect might differ with different causative medications, but research has not fully established the reason why some people experience persistent symptoms, while others improve.
Sometimes tardive dyskinesia is reversible. Often, the symptoms continue even after the causative medication is discontinued.
The reversibility of this side effect might differ with different causative medications, but research has not fully established the reason why some people experience persistent symptoms, while others improve.
Learn MoreCan Tardive Dyskinesia Be Cured?
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lim K, Lam M, Zai C, et al.Genome wide study of tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenia.Transl Psychiatry.2021;11(1):351. doi:10.1038/s41398-021-01471-yCornett EM, Novitch M, Kaye AD, Kata V, Kaye AM.Medication-induced tardive dyskinesia: A review and update.Ochsner J.2017;17(2):162-174.Vinuela A, Kang UJ.Reversibility of tardive dyskinesia syndrome.Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y). 2014;4:282. doi:10.7916/D86Q1VXZSolmi M, Pigato G, Kane JM, Correll CU.Clinical risk factors for the development of tardive dyskinesia.J Neurol Sci. 2018;389:21-27. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2018.02.012
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lim K, Lam M, Zai C, et al.Genome wide study of tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenia.Transl Psychiatry.2021;11(1):351. doi:10.1038/s41398-021-01471-yCornett EM, Novitch M, Kaye AD, Kata V, Kaye AM.Medication-induced tardive dyskinesia: A review and update.Ochsner J.2017;17(2):162-174.Vinuela A, Kang UJ.Reversibility of tardive dyskinesia syndrome.Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y). 2014;4:282. doi:10.7916/D86Q1VXZSolmi M, Pigato G, Kane JM, Correll CU.Clinical risk factors for the development of tardive dyskinesia.J Neurol Sci. 2018;389:21-27. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2018.02.012
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lim K, Lam M, Zai C, et al.Genome wide study of tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenia.Transl Psychiatry.2021;11(1):351. doi:10.1038/s41398-021-01471-yCornett EM, Novitch M, Kaye AD, Kata V, Kaye AM.Medication-induced tardive dyskinesia: A review and update.Ochsner J.2017;17(2):162-174.Vinuela A, Kang UJ.Reversibility of tardive dyskinesia syndrome.Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y). 2014;4:282. doi:10.7916/D86Q1VXZSolmi M, Pigato G, Kane JM, Correll CU.Clinical risk factors for the development of tardive dyskinesia.J Neurol Sci. 2018;389:21-27. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2018.02.012
Lim K, Lam M, Zai C, et al.Genome wide study of tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenia.Transl Psychiatry.2021;11(1):351. doi:10.1038/s41398-021-01471-y
Cornett EM, Novitch M, Kaye AD, Kata V, Kaye AM.Medication-induced tardive dyskinesia: A review and update.Ochsner J.2017;17(2):162-174.
Vinuela A, Kang UJ.Reversibility of tardive dyskinesia syndrome.Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y). 2014;4:282. doi:10.7916/D86Q1VXZ
Solmi M, Pigato G, Kane JM, Correll CU.Clinical risk factors for the development of tardive dyskinesia.J Neurol Sci. 2018;389:21-27. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2018.02.012
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