Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRisksComplicationsTreatmentsHow to Stay SafeFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Risks
Complications
Treatments
How to Stay Safe
Frequently Asked Questions
Tardive dyskinesiais a disabling side effect of medications most often used to treat mental health disorders. It causes involuntary and repetitive movements, usually in the tongue and face. People living with mental health conditions and associated complications like tardive dyskinesia may wonder how aCOVID-19infection might affect them differently than others.
This article will discuss the risks and complications of COVID-19 in people with tardive dyskinesia, the pandemic’s effect on the diagnosis of tardive dyskinesia, and other considerations, including concerns about vaccination.
DNY59 / Getty Images
Tardive Dyskinesia and COVID-19 Risk
Many people with chronic health conditions and those who take certain medications are concerned about how COVID-19 will affect them.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), certain groups of people are more vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19, including people over the age of 65, and people with certain health conditions, including:
Currently, research does not suggest that having tardive dyskinesia increases a person’s risk of contracting COVID-19 or becoming severely ill from the disease. However, people with mental health disorders and those who require treatment with certain medications might be at risk of becoming very sick from COVID-19.
It is common for people with mental health disorders to have other medical problems, especiallysubstance use disorder, that can put them at risk for severe COVID-19 infection.
An analysis of more than 40,000 patients with mental health disorders showed an association between the presence of any mental illness and an increased likelihood of needing hospitalization or dying from COVID-19.This association was found in people who take antidepressants and antipsychotic medications.
Tardive dyskinesia is a reaction to medication, and it most commonly develops after taking certain antipsychotics.Therefore, people who develop tardive dyskinesia from taking these medications may have an increased risk of needing hospitalization for or dying from COVID-19.
Experts are not yet sure why certain medications increase the likelihood of hospitalization or death from COVID-19. However, some contributing factors include:
Vaccines Are Highly RecommendedResearch is ongoing, but in the meantime, experts highly recommend theCOVID-19 vaccinefor people with mental health disorders and for those who use antipsychotics, antidepressants, and antianxiety medicine.
Vaccines Are Highly Recommended
Research is ongoing, but in the meantime, experts highly recommend theCOVID-19 vaccinefor people with mental health disorders and for those who use antipsychotics, antidepressants, and antianxiety medicine.
Complications of Tardive Dyskinesia and COVID-19
Patients with tardive dyskinesia have the same likelihood as the general population of experiencing complications orlong COVIDafter infection with COVID-19. There are no reports of complications specifically associated with having tardive dyskinesia and COVID-19.
Experts are glad to find that COVID-19 infection does not often lead to new-onset or worsening movement disorders like tardive dyskinesia.
After reviewing 200 papers in the literature that describe COVID-19 complications from the start of the pandemic to January 2021, experts indicated that the prevalence of new movement disorders was very low in hospitalized and mild COVID-19 cases.
1918 Influenza Pandemic to NowEncephalitis(an infection or inflammation of the brain) was associated with the 1918 influenza pandemic, and it led to many movement disorders. In contrast to the experience from the 1918 influenza, there are very few movement disorders associated with COVID-19.
1918 Influenza Pandemic to Now
Encephalitis(an infection or inflammation of the brain) was associated with the 1918 influenza pandemic, and it led to many movement disorders. In contrast to the experience from the 1918 influenza, there are very few movement disorders associated with COVID-19.
Tardive Dyskinesia Treatments and COVID-19
Treating tardive dyskinesiaoften means changing the dose of the medication or switching to an entirely new medication. A person should only make these types of changes in consultation with their prescribing healthcare provider.
Classically, the medications used to treat chronic tardive dyskinesia include:
Each treatment for tardive dyskinesia has been evaluated separately for complications related to COVID-19.
Clonazepam
Clonazepam, in the benzodiazepine class, is a sedative that treats anxiety and agitation associated with tardive dyskinesia. At higher doses, this medication can make people sleepy.
Observational studies have previously shown an increased risk of pneumonia in people who take benzodiazepines.Additionally, experts have raised concerns about respiratory impairment in people with COVID-19 who take benzodiazepines.But currently, there is no clear evidence that the use of clonazepam leads to complications related to COVID-19.
Amantadine
Amantadine is a medicine often used to treatParkinson’s disease, but it is also used to treat movement problems associated with tardive dyskinesia.It is also an antiviral that prevents the flu. There are no documented risks of taking amantadine for tardive dyskinesia if a person has COVID-19.
Gingko Biloba
The American Academy of Neurology recommends usingginkgo biloba, an herb rich in antioxidants, to help treat tardive dyskinesia in people hospitalized with schizophrenia, a chronic brain disorder associated with delusion, hallucinations, and disorganized speech and thinking processes.The herbal therapy has not been studied in other populations.
Some experts think that ginkgo biloba could provide anti-inflammatory and immune system modulation in patients with influenza and COVID-19. The leaves of ginkgo biloba contain a protein that might inhibit SARS-CoV-2 activity.
However, clinical studies have not been conducted on the use of ginkgo biloba in people with COVID-19, so it cannot be recommended as an effective treatment. There are not any documented risks of taking ginkgo biloba for tardive dyskinesia if a person has COVID-19.
Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 (VMAT2) Inhibitors
Tetrabenazine is in the same class of medication and is used off-label to treat tardive dyskinesia.
There is no clear evidence that using this class of medication leads to complications related to COVID-19.
The best way to protect yourself and others is toget vaccinated for COVID-19.
People with tardive dyskinesia should stay in touch with their healthcare providers and monitor their symptoms. They should continue taking prescribed medication and discuss any changes with their prescribing provider.
Other ways to prevent infection from COVID-19 include:
A Word From Verywell
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, risk factors were still unknown. It is now known that having tardive dyskinesia does not put you at greater risk for COVID-19 infection or complications from the virus. However, if you have tardive dyskinesia, you likely have a mental health disorder that you treat with medications that may increase the likelihood of being hospitalized for COVID-19. It’s not yet known if this is because of the mental health disorder and medication, or if it’s related to other factors, like difficulties in accessing care.
The information in this article is current as of the date listed. As new research becomes available, we’ll update this article. For the latest on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
Frequently Asked QuestionsTardive dyskinesiaaffects people who have been taking antipsychotic medications for a long time. Talk to your healthcare provider if you take these types of medications and have increased agitation, uncontrollable lip-smacking or facial grimacing, jerking movements of the arms or legs, or slow, twisting movements of the torso or neck.Tardive dyskinesia most often develops after long-term use of a class of medicines calledantipsychoticsor neuroleptics.These medications treat hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking. Tardive dyskinesia is more common in people who take first-generation antipsychotics like haloperidol, chlorpromazine, and fluphenazine.However, second-generation antipsychotics like clozapine, risperidone, and olanzapine can still cause tardive dyskinesia.Several other medication classes are associated with the disease, but to a lesser extent. Talk to your healthcare provider about your medications and whether they can lead to movement problems.The CDC highly recommendsCOVID-19 vaccinationfor all eligible people. The vaccines are safe and effective.The public has had concerns about side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, and some of these concerns include neurological disorders. Through August 2023, 17 people reported tardive dyskinesia after vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine,12 people reported the disease after receiving the Moderna vaccine,and one person reported it after receiving the discontinued Johnson & Johnson vaccine.The risk of developing this movement disorder with COVID-19 vaccination is extremely low, and the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks.Public health and government officials recommend that eligible people receive the first vaccination available to them. One brand of vaccine does not pose greater risk to people with mental health disorders or tardive dyskinesia, and the approved vaccines are safe and effective.
Tardive dyskinesiaaffects people who have been taking antipsychotic medications for a long time. Talk to your healthcare provider if you take these types of medications and have increased agitation, uncontrollable lip-smacking or facial grimacing, jerking movements of the arms or legs, or slow, twisting movements of the torso or neck.
Tardive dyskinesia most often develops after long-term use of a class of medicines calledantipsychoticsor neuroleptics.These medications treat hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking. Tardive dyskinesia is more common in people who take first-generation antipsychotics like haloperidol, chlorpromazine, and fluphenazine.However, second-generation antipsychotics like clozapine, risperidone, and olanzapine can still cause tardive dyskinesia.Several other medication classes are associated with the disease, but to a lesser extent. Talk to your healthcare provider about your medications and whether they can lead to movement problems.
Tardive dyskinesia most often develops after long-term use of a class of medicines calledantipsychoticsor neuroleptics.These medications treat hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking. Tardive dyskinesia is more common in people who take first-generation antipsychotics like haloperidol, chlorpromazine, and fluphenazine.
However, second-generation antipsychotics like clozapine, risperidone, and olanzapine can still cause tardive dyskinesia.Several other medication classes are associated with the disease, but to a lesser extent. Talk to your healthcare provider about your medications and whether they can lead to movement problems.
The CDC highly recommendsCOVID-19 vaccinationfor all eligible people. The vaccines are safe and effective.The public has had concerns about side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, and some of these concerns include neurological disorders. Through August 2023, 17 people reported tardive dyskinesia after vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine,12 people reported the disease after receiving the Moderna vaccine,and one person reported it after receiving the discontinued Johnson & Johnson vaccine.The risk of developing this movement disorder with COVID-19 vaccination is extremely low, and the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks.
The CDC highly recommendsCOVID-19 vaccinationfor all eligible people. The vaccines are safe and effective.
The public has had concerns about side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, and some of these concerns include neurological disorders. Through August 2023, 17 people reported tardive dyskinesia after vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine,12 people reported the disease after receiving the Moderna vaccine,and one person reported it after receiving the discontinued Johnson & Johnson vaccine.The risk of developing this movement disorder with COVID-19 vaccination is extremely low, and the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks.
Public health and government officials recommend that eligible people receive the first vaccination available to them. One brand of vaccine does not pose greater risk to people with mental health disorders or tardive dyskinesia, and the approved vaccines are safe and effective.
23 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.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.People with certain medical conditions.
Wang QQ, Kaelber DC, Xu R, Volkow ND.COVID-19 risk and outcomes in patients with substance use disorders: analyses from electronic health records in the United States.Mol Psychiatry. 2021;26(1):30-39. doi:10.1038/s41380-020-00880-7
Vai B, Mazza MG, Delli Colli C, et al.Mental disorders and risk of COVID-19-related mortality, hospitalisation, and intensive care unit admission: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Lancet Psychiatry. 2021;8(9):797-812. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00232-7
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Tardive dyskinesia information page.
Brandão PRP, Grippe TC, Pereira DA, Munhoz RP, Cardoso F.New-onset movement disorders associated with COVID-19.Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov. 2021;11:26. doi:10.5334/tohm.595
Bhidayasiri R, Fahn S, Weiner WJ, Gronseth GS, Sullivan KL, Zesiewicz TA.Evidence-based guideline: treatment of tardive syndromes: report of the guideline development subcommittee of the american academy of neurology.Neurology. 2013;81(5):463-469. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e31829d86b6
US Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves first drug to treat tardive dyskinesia.
US Food and Drug Administration.Austedo drug information.
Sun GQ, Zhang L, Zhang LN, Wu Z, Hu DF.Benzodiazepines or related drugs and risk of pneumonia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2019;34(4):513-521. doi:10.1002/gps.5048
Ostuzzi, G., Papola, D., Gastaldon, C.et al.Safety of psychotropic medications in people with COVID-19: evidence review and practical recommendations.BMC Med. 2020;18(1):215. doi:10.1186/s12916-020-01685-9
Parkinson’s Foundation.Amantadine.
Xiong Y, Zhu GH, Wang HN, et al.Discovery of naturally occurring inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro from Ginkgo biloba leaves via large-scale screening.Fitoterapia. 2021;152:104909. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2021.104909
Touma KTB, Scarff JR.Valbenazine and deutetrabenazine for tardive dyskinesia.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2018;15(5-6):13-16.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to protect yourself & others.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Tardive dyskinesia.
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.
MedlinePlus.Tardive dyskinesia.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Safety of COVID-19 vaccines.
eHealthMe.Pfizer BioNTech Covid Vaccine and Tardive dyskinesia - a phase IV clinical study of CDC and FDA data.
eHealthMe.Moderna COVID Vaccine and Tardive dyskinesia - a phase IV clinical study of CDC and FDA data.
eHealthMe.Johnson and Johnson Covid Vaccine and Tardive dyskinesia - a phase IV clinical study of CDC and FDA data.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
