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Navigating tardive dyskinesia: a senior’s survival guide. I thought I had TD movements in the very beginning when I would have jerking movements in my fingers.

So older adults, if you have problems like this, have it checked out.

It didn’t help because I was a massage therapist at the time. Then I started getting tremors in my right arm. This is not “old age” elders.

I finally went to a neurologist and he told me I had parkinsonism (just like Parkinson’s but without the same causes). I just call it Parkinson’s because it’s easier to explain to people.

Tardive dyskinesia meaning is a drug-induced movement disorder in which sudden, uncontrollable movements happen in the face and body.

This happens because of prolonged use of medication, typically anti-psychotic drugs. “Tardive” means delayed or late. Dyskinesia refers to abnormal, involuntary, or repeated muscle movements.

Differentiating Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) vs Drug-Induced Parkinsonism (DIP)

Elders, Tardive dyskinesia (TD) and drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP) are different movement disorders with distinct symptoms, onset, and treatments:

Onset

DIP usually starts within days to months of starting or increasing an antipsychotic, while TD can take months to years to appear.

I had been taking Zyprexa (anitpsychotic) for several years before the movements started..

Symptoms

DIP is characterized by slowness, rigidity, and tremors, while TD is characterized by involuntary, abnormal facial movements like lip smacking, puckering, or chewing.

This is when I suspected I had Drug-Induced Parkinson’s because I was having tremors in my right arm but no facial movements..

Treatment

DIP is often treated with neurotransmitter blockers, but these can make TD worse.

Stopping the medication that caused DIP usually resolves the symptoms, but TD may be permanent.

Differential Diagnosis

It’s important to differentiate between TD and DIP because treating either condition with the wrong therapy can worsen symptoms.

Other factors that can help differentiate between TD and DIP include the prevalence, process, and timing of onset.

Early Signs of Tardive Dyskinesia

Navigating tardive dyskinesia: a senior’s survival guide. The first sign of tardive dyskinesia (TD) is usually irregular tongue movements.

Likewise, other early signs include: Subtle deviant motion and spasms or movement in the neck and shoulders. This is why I thought I had TD after doing some research.

Even more, other symptoms include:

Facial grimacing
Finger movement
Rocking or thrusting of the pelvis
Jaw swinging
Repetitive chewing
Rapid eye blinking
Tongue thrusting
Restlessness

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TD can develop as early as 3 months after taking certain medications, such as antipsychotics or antidepressants.

The risk increases the longer the individual is taking the medication.

Some factors that may increase the risk of developing TD include:

Older age. Older adults are five to six times more likely to develop TD than younger adults. TD develops earlier in the course of treatment for older adults. TD is more severe in older adults. TD is less likely to spontaneously remit in older adults.
Female sex
Longer duration and higher doses of dopamine receptor blocking agents (DRBAs)
Treatment with typical (first-generation) antipsychotics
Preexisting mood disorder
Cognitive disturbance
Alcohol or substance abuse
Diabetes
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positivity

Tardive Dyskinesia Symptoms

By and large elders, tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a chronic condition that causes involuntary, repitive movements of the face, body, and limbs. Symptoms include:

Facial movements: Grimacing, lip-smacking, tongue protrusion, puffing out cheeks, frowning, or pursing lips
Eye movements: Rapid eye blinking
Jaw movements: Jaw swinging or tongue thrusting
Arm and leg movements: Piano-playing finger movements, rocking the pelvis, swaying, tapping the feet, or waddling
Other movements: Repetitive chewing, grunting, or restlessness

In rare cases, TD can affect breathing or cause the eyes to stick in a certain position, which requires immediate treatment.

Tardive Dyskinesia Causes

Navigating tardive dyskinesia: a senior’s survival guide.

Being that older adults, tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a neurological movement disorder caused by long-term use of certain medications that block dopamine receptors in the brain:

Antipsychotics

Also known as neuroleptics, these are used to treat psychiatric conditions. Older antipsychotics are more likely to cause TD.

Older antipsychotics like chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, haloperidol, perphenazine, prochlorperazine, and thioridazine are most likely to cause TD.

Second-generation antipsychotics like aripiprazole, amisulpride, paliperidone, olanzapine, and risperidone can also cause TD.

Antidepressants

Some antidepressants, such as lithium, fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), amitriptyline, phenelzine, and trazodone, can cause TD, especially in older adults.

Anti-Seizure Medications

Phenobarbital and phenytoin can cause TD. Other anti-seizure medications that can cause TD include lamotrigine and carbamazepine.

Other Drugs

Likewise, Metoclopramide, anti-Parkinson medications like levodopa, antihistamines, and antihistamines with decongestants can cause TD.

Nausea Suppressants

Compazine and Reglan can also cause tardive dyskinesia .

Movement Disorder Medications

Artane and Orap can cause TD. Kind of funny, I’m taking artane for my movements because of the DIP.

The reasons why some people develop TD while others do not are unknown. So elders, if you are taking any of these meds and have some of these symptoms, talk to your doctor.

Is Tardive Dyskinesia Curable?

Navigating tardive dyskinesia: a senior’s survival guide. No, there is no known cure for tardive dyskinesia, but a medical professional can help manage symptoms.

Here are some ways to manage TD:

Stop or Taper Medications

If diagnosed early, stopping or tapering the medication that’s causing TD can help reverse it.

However, the movements may become permanent or worse even after stopping the medication.

Take Second-Generation Antipsychotics

These medications have a lower risk of causing TD than first-generation antipsychotics.

Just a warning, I take olanzapine which caused my Parkinsonism. It was supposed to be a rare side effect, but of course…

Consider Other Treatments

In rare cases, botulinum toxin, deep brain stimulation, or other medications can help.

Reduce Risk Factors

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Overall, quitting smoking, avoiding substance use, and managing blood sugar levels can help reduce the risk of TD.

Get Routine Screenings

Ask your health care provider for routine screenings of movement symptoms every three months. That’s if you can afford it!

They way this country is going, no one will be able to afford anything.

Be Aware of Your Body

Pay attention to any unusual symptoms and speak with a doctor if anything unfamiliar occurs.

What Does Severe Tardive Dyskinesia Look Like?

Severe tardive dyskinesia (TD) can manifest through a range of involuntary movements that can be quite distressing. Common characteristics of severe TD include:

Facial Movements

Involuntary movements of the face, such as grimacing, lip smacking, or tongue protrusion. Individuals may also experience rapid blinking or facial twitching.

Limbs and Extremities

Jerky, uncontrollable movements of the arms, legs, hands, and feet. This can include repetitive movements or postures that may be awkward or uncomfortable.

Truncal Movements

Consequently, in some cases, individuals may experience movements of the torso, which can include twisting or rocking motions.

Difficulty in Coordination

Severe TD can impact a person’s ability to coordinate movements, leading to challenges in walking or performing daily tasks.

Posture

Some individuals may adopt abnormal postures due to muscle contractions, which can be painful or lead to discomfort.

Duration

Navigating tardive dyskinesia: a senior’s survival guide. These movements can be persistent and may not be easily suppressed, often worsening during periods of stress or anxiety.

Tardive Dyskinesia Treatment

Drugs Used to Treat Tardive Dyskinesia

Some drugs used to treat tardive dyskinesia (TD) include:

Tetrabenazine and Deutetrabenazine

Henceforth, these dopamine-depleting medications are effective for treating TD and involuntary movements caused by Huntington’s disease. They work by changing dopamine activity in the brain.

Valbenazine

This medication is specifically used to treat TD. It works by changing the activity of certain brain substances.

Ginkgo Biloba

A study found that Ginkgo biloba significantly decreased the total AIMS ( Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale) in people with TD compared to a placebo.

Botox Injections

Botox injections are being studied for TD because they’ve been shown to be effective for other movement disorders.

Antipsychotics can also be associated with TD, but clozapine has a lower risk of motor control side effects than other antipsychotics.

Yeah, what they don’t tell you about clozapine is that you have to have your blood checked once a week.

It can cause a severe drop in white blood cells, a condition that can lead to life-threatening infections.

New Medicine for Tardive Dyskinesia

Navigating tardive dyskinesia: a senior’s survival guide. Valbenazine (Ingrezza) is the first FDA-approved medication for treating tardive dyskinesia (TD) in adults:

What It Is

Nonetheless, valbenazine is a prescription capsule that treats TD specifically.

How It Works

It reduces the amount of dopamine released in the brain’s movement and motor control region.

How To Take It

Valbenazine is taken once daily with a glass of water. It can be taken with most psychiatric medications, such as antipsychotics or antidepressants.

Side Effects

Otherwise, common side effects of Valbenazine include sleepiness, tiredness, dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, nausea, and weight gain.

Safety

Valbenazine can cause serious side effects in people with Huntington’s disease, including depression, suicidal thoughts, or suicidal actions.

Before taking Valbenazine, you should tell your healthcare provider if you have Huntington’s disease and are depressed or have untreated depression.

Benztropine for Tardive Dyskinesia

Benztropine may improve symptoms of tardive dystonia and parkinsonism, but they should not be prescribed routinely.

Accordingly, they may possibly exacerbate TD and worsen thinking and memory.

Neurotransmitter enhancers have been extensively tested in the treatment of TD, but they have not been found effective in most recent trials.

Does Magnesium Help Tardive Dyskinesia?

Navigating tardive dyskinesia: a senior’s survival guide.

Magnesium has been studied for its potential benefits in various neurological and psychiatric conditions, but its effectiveness specifically for tardive dyskinesia (TD) is not well established.

Some research suggests that magnesium may have a role in managing symptoms related to movement disorders due to its involvement in neurotransmitter function and muscle control.

I tried using magnesium for my anxiety, that was a bust. It didn’t help in any way. My sleep became worse because of it. So elders, be careful when using magnesium.

Managing Tardive Dyskinesia

So, older adults, know the early symptoms of tardive dyskinesia like irregular tongue movements, facial grimacing, unusual finger movements, and much more.

Talk to your doctor as soon as you experience the first signs. Don’t ignore them thinking it’s your imagination.

I did that in the beginning with Parkinsonism, and it just kept getting worse. I lost my career over it.

Elders, I know it’s like taking a med because of the side effect of another med, but it will make your life a little easier.

I’m on artane for the parkinsonism and it makes a world of difference. I don’t experience the leg movements as much.

Sum It All Up

Navigating tardive dyskinesia: a senior’s survival guide.

Tardive dyskinesia can be hard in older adults because you may think it’s just part of aging. No, it’s not. You don’t have to live with it.

Talk to your doctor. If you feel like you’re not being heard, find another doctor that will listen. Some doctor’s will just tell you “it’s part of aging, learn to live with it.”

I say NO. Fight for your right to be heard. Tardive dyskinesia is not good to let go untreated. It can become life threatening in certain ways.

So, elders speak up for yourselves. And you don’t have to “just live with it.” That seems to be the consensus from some doctor’s nowadays. Peace and alway’s love. Until next time…