From severe and debilitating problems to minor, unnoticeable side effects, no medication is 100 percent safe. There are always risks and benefits, and every patient and their doctor must weigh those pros and cons.
But what if your meds are creating a permanent problem? What if it’s something that has started small, but now it’s far worse, and the medication you’ve depended on is now causing uncontrollable issues?
If you’ve noticed strange facial tics, from rapid blinking to lip smacking and tongue movements, this could be more than just some involuntary movement. It could be a side effect of your medication.
Do you or someone you know take medicines for mental health? If you’re experiencing unexplained facial tics, Tardive Dyskinesia may be to blame.
RELATED: Tardive Dyskinesia & Parkinson’s Disease: What’s The Difference?
What is Tardive Dyskinesia?
Simply put, Tardive Dyskinesia is a nervous system disorder that causes uncontrollable movements, from those of the face to the body. Caused by extended use of psychiatric medication, the condition can become debilitating in some rare cases. The typical person with the condition, however, experiences a manageable degree of symptoms.
Tardive Dyskinesia includes the following symptoms in the face:
- Lip smacking
- Cheek puffing
- Chewing
- Grunting
- Blinking
In the body, the condition may cause:
- Arm flapping
- Feet tapping
- Swaying
- Finger wiggling
With Tardive Dyskinesia, it doesn’t matter how fast or slow the movements can be. Oftentimes, the unexpected and uncontrollable nature of these movements complicates daily living. You may feel embarrassed. You may struggle to perform certain tasks or duties.
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Fortunately, the condition often subsides by reducing your medication dosage or taking alternative meds.
What Causes Tardive Dyskinesia?
This condition occurs as a result of various chemicals in your brain. When you take certain medications for mental health, they change your brain chemistry. Particular levels of certain chemicals, called neurotransmitters, may become unbalanced. As a result, the body can become negatively affected, contributing to the jerky movements seen in Tardive Dyskinesia.
Generally speaking, it takes at least several months before symptoms may arise. Some people can be on these medicines for years without problems, whereas others may experience uncontrollable tics in just days of use.
If you believe you have Tardive Dyskinesia from your medication, consult your doctor. Common medications that cause the condition are Haloperidol (Haldol), Fluphenazine, and Risperidone. Black women over the age of 55 have one of the highest risks of developing the disorder. Heavy alcohol and drug users are also at a pronounced risk.
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How Your Doctor Diagnoses It
Because Tardive Dyskinesia may share symptoms with other neurological and movement disorders, it can be difficult to differentiate the various conditions.
This is okay. Your doctor can refer you to a specialist to rule out similar disorders like Parkinson’s disease and Tourette’s syndrome. Brain scans and blood tests are the most definitive ways to properly diagnose.
If changing your medication doesn’t ease your symptoms, various medicines may treat Tardive Dyskinesia. Supplementation with Vitamin E, melatonin, and Vitamin B6 may also be useful, although the research is not conclusive.
In most cases, the symptoms of Tardive Dyskinesia can be managed with minor changes. However, sometimes the symptoms do become permanent. It’s important that your doctor routinely screen you for abnormal movements, especially at the year mark of any medication use.
Neurological events such as strokes and aneurysms must also be analyzed, as these can lead to similar symptoms.
When all is said and done, Tardive Dyskinesia does not have to be a life-changing condition. Patients are usually able to maintain normal lives and continue taking medication for their mental health.
Combining psychotherapy with your psychiatric medicine is also highly recommended. This can allow you to address your particular challenges better, and in the end, might even allow you to greatly reduce your medication use.
