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How does an individual get Tardive Dyskinesia?
Essentially, prolonged exposure to antipsychotic treatment (necessary for many persons with chronic schizophrenia) is the major reason that TD occurs in an individual. Some people get it sooner than others. The risk factors that increase the chances of developing TD are a) duration of exposure to antipsychotics (especially the older generation), b) older age, c) post-menopausal females, d) alcoholism and substance abuse, e) mental retardation, and f) experiencing a lot of EPS in the acute stage of antipsychotic therapy.
The mechanism of TD is still unknown despite extensive research. However, it is generally believed that long-term blocking of dopamine D2 receptors (which is what all antipsychotics on the market do) causes an increase in the number of D2 receptors in the striated region of the brain (which controls muscle coordination). This “up-regulation” of D2 receptors may cause spontaneous and random muscle contractions or movements throughout the body, particularly in the peri-oral and facial muscles.
How many individuals currently have Tardive Dyskinesia?
It is not known how many individuals currently have TD. No large-scale epidemiological prevalence survey has been done. It would also change because TD can be transient or persistent. It can also be more common in some persons with risk factors than others.
However, there have been several follow-up studies of individuals who start taking antipsychotics to measure the annual occurrence (incidence) of TD. Eight studies in young individuals (average age 29 years) receiving the older antipsychotics showed practically the same rate of 5% of those persons who develop TD every year, year after year. This is until eventually almost 50-60% develop the disorder over their lifetime. The incidence of TD is higher in older individuals (average age 65 years). Our studies have shown that TD occurs in 26% after only one year of exposure to haloperidol. This increases to 52% after two years and up to 60% after three years.
Do the newer generation atypical antipsychotics pose a lower risk of Tardive Dyskinesia?
Yes, the newer atypical antipsychotics are much safer than the older generation regarding TD. The first-year incidence of TD with risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, and ziprasidone in young persons is about 0.5%. This is ten-fold lower than with haloperidol. Similarly, the incidence of TD with atypical antipsychotics in the first year in geriatric patients is 2.5%. This is also ten-fold lower than with haloperidol. There is also growing evidence that the incidence is even lower in subsequent years of exposure to atypicals. The problem of TD has been significantly reduced with the advent and widespread use of atypical antipsychotics.
What are the symptoms of Tardive Dyskinesia, and is it reversible?
As described above, the main symptoms of TD are continuous and random muscular movements in the tongue, mouth, and face, but sometimes the limbs and trunks are also affected. Rarely, the respiration muscles may be affected, resulting in grunts and even breathing difficulties. Sometimes, the legs can be so severely affected that walking becomes difficult.
It must be noted that many other conditions resemble TD and must be ruled out before diagnosing TD. For example, several neurodegenerative brain diseases may cause movement disorders. Very old persons may also develop mouth and facial movements with age which may be mistaken for TD. Blepharospasm is another condition that may be mistaken for TD. It should be emphasized that a history of several months or years of antipsychotic intake must be documented before TD is even considered.
TD is often mild and reversible. The percentage of patients who develop severe or irreversible TD is quite low as a proportion of those receiving long-term antipsychotic therapy.
What should you do if you notice symptoms of TD in yourself or a family member?
Consult a psychiatrist with established experience in antipsychotic drugs or a neurologist specializing in movement disorders. That physician will take a detailed history, conduct an examination, and decide whether you have TD or something else. He will recommend the appropriate management.
The pattern and severity of TD are usually measured on a rating scale called “The Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale” (AIMS for short). Psychiatrists use AIMS to assess patients receiving long-term antipsychotic medication for TD symptoms annually.
Are there effective treatments for Tardive Dyskinesia?
There has never been a definitive, validated, and widely accepted treatment for TD. Dozens of drugs have been tested over the past 30 years with mixed results at best. The atypical antipsychotic clozapine has been reported to reverse persistent TD after 6-12 months, possibly through gradual “down-regulation” of supersensitive dopamine D2 receptors. Some preliminary reports suggest that other atypical antipsychotics may help reverse these side effects.
However, many persons who need antipsychotic treatment are now receiving the new atypicals. They are given a drastically lower incidence of TD with atypical antipsychotics. Therefore, the issue of developing a treatment for TD may have become a moot one. Preventing the occurrence of TD is much more preferable to treating it.
If you liked this, you might also like My Slow Movement | Tardive Dyskinesia Information Page
Article by National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Reviewed by Henry A. Nasrallah, MD September 2003
Reprinted with permission by NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill).
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