Tardive dyskinesia (TD) symptoms include involuntary movements like twitching and grimacing that can become extremely bothersome and severely restrict one’s daily life. These discomforting movements may even pose physical threats.
This condition can cause great emotional discomfort and impact one’s social life, yet natural therapies may provide relief from its symptoms.
Involuntary Movements
Involuntary movements refer to any kind of motion you cannot control, including tremors, tics and any abnormal movements that cause discomfort.
In some instances, involuntary movement symptoms will simply fade or get better over time; in other cases, however, they could become permanent.
Doctors can determine whether you have involuntary movement by reviewing your medical history and conducting a physical exam, in addition to asking you about any symptoms that you are experiencing such as discomfort with movement. They will also ask how often and in which ways these movements occur.
Tardive Dykinesia (TD) is a neurological movement disorder caused by long-term use of certain antipsychotic medications, typically as a side effect. TD may lead to facial tics and chorea-like movements known as choreas.
Uncoordinated Movements
Uncoordinated movements are one of the hallmarks of Tardive Dyskinesia, such as twitching, grimacing and thrusting hands or trunk.
These involuntary movements can be extremely disorienting and may lead to people feeling self-conscious. Additionally, these behaviors could strain relationships with others.
Tardive dyskinesia is an adverse reaction of some neuroleptic drugs (antipsychotic medications). These medicines work by blocking dopamine receptors in your brain.
Dopamine is a chemical which regulates our emotions and pleasure centers of our brain.
Tardive dyskinesia is more likely to occur in those taking dopamine receptor-blocking drugs for psychological and neurological conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and dementia.
Involuntary Eye Movements
Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is an involuntary movement disorder caused by antipsychotic drugs used to treat schizophrenia and other mental health disorders.
Blocking dopamine helps cells communicate between each other and muscles move smoothly; individuals who are particularly sensitive to it often experience more symptoms of TD.
Movement disorders may include stiff, jerky movements that change speed rapidly or be continuous and involuntary. They may interfere with vision, balance and coordination as well as how you perceive things around you and interact with people.
Involuntary Mouth Movements
Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is an unexpected side effect of neuroleptic drugs used for mental health treatment. These meds block an important brain chemical which facilitates communication among cells, making muscles move smoothly.
TD symptoms can begin appearing several months after taking an anti-depressant medicine and may persist long after it’s no longer necessary to do so.
Treating TTD requires time and patience, with faster results when treatment begins sooner. As soon as treatment starts, more quickly will your symptoms fade away.
Involuntary Arm Movements
On average, approximately one out of four individuals who take antipsychotic medications for an extended period will develop tardive dyskinesia – a neurological condition which results in involuntary movements of their face, neck, limbs and torso.
These movements may be uncomfortable or painful and impede on your ability to work, sleep or remain active. Furthermore, they may make communicating with others challenging.
Tardive dyskinesia is most often caused by medications known as dopamine receptor-blockers or dopamine antagonists that block dopamine receptors in your brain – usually prescribed to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions.