What causes tardive dyskinesia?
Tardive dyskinesia is an involuntary neurological movement disorder caused by the use of neuroleptic drugs that are prescribed to treat certain psychiatric or gastrointestinal conditions. Long-term use of these drugs may produce biochemical abnormalities in the area of the brain known as the striatum. The reasons that some people who take these drugs may get Tardive Dyskinesia, and some people do not, is unknown. Tardive Dystonia is believed to be the more severe form of Tardive Dyskinesia. In tardive dyskinesia, involuntary muscle contractions cause unwanted movements, often of the facial muscles and tongue, sometimes of the upper body, arms and legs. These movements generally occur after several months or years of treatment. (The word “tardive” means late.) Tardive dyskinesia usually goes away if it is caught early and the dose of antipsychotic drug is decreased or discontinued. In some cases, tardive dyskinesia is irreversible.
