If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Tardive Dyskinesia, you no doubt have many questions. What is it? What are the symptoms? What causes it? What can a person with Tardive Dyskinesia get help?

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Tardive Dyskinesia, you no doubt have many questions. What is it? What are the symptoms? What causes it? What can a person with Tardive Dyskinesia get help?

What is Tardive Dyskinesia?

Tardive Dyskinesia literally means late (tardive) movement (Dyskinesia). It is a condition where the body moves involuntarily and often repetitively. A person with TD may have more subtle symptoms such as eyebrow raising or lip sucking, or their symptoms may be much more extreme, involving involuntary shaking of the arms, torso or lower extremities.

Tardive Dyskinesia is classified as a movement disorder, in the same category as Tourette?s Syndrome and Parkinson?s disease.

Causes of TD

Earlier cases of Tardive Dyskinesia were linked to the use of antipsychotic drugs. Scientists believe that certain drugs were used to treat diseases like schizophrenia by blocking dopamine, a chemical made by the body. However, they believed that in some people, the body becomes overly sensitive to dopamine so even a little can create involuntary movements.

Many of the antipsychotic drugs used now have fewer side effects in terms of movement, however, new cases of Tardive Dyskinesia are emerging from people who have taken drugs, such as Reglan for gastroesophageal reflux disease (also known as GERD or acid reflux). People who have taken Reglan for more than three months are at a higher risk of developing TD.

In addition to having the inconvenience, discomfort and fatigue from the involuntary movement, people with TD may have difficulty breathing and swallowing. They may develop mouth sores and ulcers from involuntary tongue movement.

People with TD may feel embarrassed by the symptoms and may find themselves unable to work in certain jobs because of their movement.

Treatment for Tardive Dyskinesia

A person who experiences TD symptoms may find relief by discontinuing the medicine used, however, symptoms may continue. In addition, as indicated by the term ?tardive,? some symptoms may appear even later, after the medicine has been discontinued. This may be because the medicine may actually mask the symptoms it in fact creates.

An additional challenge is to find substitute medicines to treat the original symptoms of psychosis or acid reflux.

Although there is currently no cure for Tardive Dyskinesia, there are some treatments that may help lessen the symptoms, including the use of certain amino acids and vitamins.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Tardive Dyskinesia as a result of using Reglan, you may have the right to legal reparation. We represent all Reglan lawsuit clients on a contingency basis, so there are no legal fees unless we win compensation in your case.

Resources:

David Whitney is the author of this article on Reglan side effects.
Find more information about Reglan tardive dyskinesia here.