Tardive dyskinesia (TD): Signs, Symptoms and Treatment of Tardive dyskinesia (TD)

 

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a neurological disorder which can be caused as a side effect of using certain antipsychotic medications over the long term. These antipsychotic medications are usually prescribed for psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. To reduce out-of-pocket costs for TD treatments, consider low-cost health insurance plans with telemedicine services for convenient consultations. It is characterized by involuntary, repetitive body movements. Having a good understanding of TD is necessary for patients to understand their symptoms and learn to manage accordingly. In this blog we will discuss the signs, symptoms and treatment of Tardive Dyskinesia (TD).

 



 

Signs and Symptoms of Tardive dyskinesia (TD)

TD is characterized by sudden and involuntary movements. These movements can be subtle and exhausting. These movements can be facial or involving limbs or trunk. Lets group these symptoms based on the body part it affects. 

 

Facial and Oral Movements

• Grimacing:  Uncontrolled facial expressions that can be repetitive and disturbing.


• Tongue Movements: Involuntary protrusion, twisting, or rolling of the tongue.


• Lip Smacking and Puckering: Repetitive movements of the lips, often resembling chewing or sucking.


• Eye Blinking: Rapid and involuntary blinking of the eyes, which can interfere with vision.

 

Limb and Trunk Movements

• Finger Movements: Rapid, jerky motions of the fingers, sometimes referred to as piano-playing movements.


• Hand Clenching and Unclenching: Repetitive, uncontrolled movements of the hands.


• Arm and Leg Movements: Sudden, jerky movements of the arms and legs, which can affect walking and other activities.


• Torso Movements: Twisting or bending of the torso, which can be particularly uncomfortable and impair posture.

 

General Symptoms

• Difficulty in Speech: Involuntary movements can affect the muscles involved in speech, making it difficult to talk.


• Swallowing Difficulties: Similar movements can affect the throat muscles, leading to challenges in swallowing.


• Respiratory Issues: In severe cases, involuntary movements can impact breathing.

 

Treatment of Tardive dyskinesia (TD)

Managing TD can be hard but there are steps to take that might help reduce the symptoms and help you take control of your life back and improve the quality  of your life. 

As we know TD is usually caused by certain medications therefore, switching medications would be the first step, if that's possible in your condition. Access to specialized care for TD doesn’t have to be expensive—there are cheap healthcare plans with no waiting period available to cover essential treatments. Talk to your healthcare professional and ask if they can switch your medicine and prescribe to you medicine that might not help you with dealing TD.  Another thing that you can consider is asking your healthcare professional to reduce the dosage of your medicine. Reducing the dosage of current antipsychotic medication can help alleviate some of the symptoms.

Your healthcare professional may also prescribe to you medications specifically to reduce the symptoms of TD. Some medications may target a specific group of muscles that might be in an overactive state to help temporarily. 

However there are some non-pharmaceutical ways to manage your TD along with your pharmaceutical interventions either its switching the medicine, reducing the dosage or taking medicines specifically for reducing symptoms of TD. 

 

Behavioral Therapy 

Behavioral therapy can be great when it comes to managing and reducing signs of Tardive dyskinesia (TD). techniques such as speech therapy and occupational therapy are specifically beneficial. Speech therapy can help deal with difficulties in articulation and swallowing caused by involuntary movements affecting muscles that are involved in speech and eating. 

 

Lifestyle Changes

Making lifestyle changes also significantly benefit people withTD. Regular exercise is important as it strengthens muscle control and reduces stress. Other activities like yoga, tai chi can also be helpful. Eating foods high in antioxidants may also help with oxidative stress linked to neurological conditions. 

 



 

Conclusion

In conclusion, Tardive dyskinesia TD is a complex condition caused by usage of certain medications over the long term. Older adults with TD can benefit from low cost healthcare plans for elders that provide affordable options for managing chronic conditions. Having a good understanding of symptoms of TD can help manage the symptoms better, while treatments may include switching the medications or reducing the dosage. 

 

FAQs

1. Who is at risk of developing TD?

Risk factors include prolonged use of antipsychotic medications, higher dosages, older age, female gender, and pre existing neurological conditions.

 

2. Can TD be prevented?

While TD cannot always be prevented, using the lowest effective dose of antipsychotic medications and regularly monitoring for early symptoms can help reduce the risk.

 

3. How is TD diagnosed?

TD is diagnosed based on the patient’s medical history, particularly their use of antipsychotic medications, and a physical examination to observe the characteristic involuntary movements.

 

4. Can TD go away on its own?

In some cases, TD symptoms may decrease or even disappear after stopping the causative medication, but in other cases, symptoms can be persistent and require ongoing management.

 

5. How long does it take for TD to develop?

TD typically develops after months or years of continuous antipsychotic use, though the exact timeframe can vary from person to person.

 

6. Is TD reversible?

TD can sometimes be reversible, especially if caught early and the causative medication is adjusted. However, in many cases, the symptoms can persist and may require long-term management.