Tardive Dyskinesia Symptoms

Tardive dyskinesia symptoms involve involuntary muscle spasms and slow movements. The ability of a process information is normally not affected in patients with this condition. The long-term use of certain classes of drugs, including anti-depressants, Parkinson's drugs, anti-psychotics and neurolyptics. Doctors first noticed this condition in schizophrenia patients who had taken the drug for several years. Neuron misfiring cause many involuntary muscle movements.

Tardive Dyskinesia Symptoms:

1. Grimacing Involuntarily or Twisting the Mouth. The contorted facial expressions of a tardive diykinesia suffer resemble several offensive gestures. Other disorganized muscle movements can cause chewing, lip smacking, or bizarre facial motions.
2. Excessive Blinking. Blinking is a normal function that helps clean and protect the surface of the eye. The rapid blinking distracts viewers and can cause the whites of the eyes to dry out, leading to other long-term problems. Involuntary forehead wrinkling may or may not accompany these movements.
3. Involuntary movements of legs, feet, and hands. A person with tardive dyskinesia may look like he's playing the piano or the guitar without an instrument being present. Toes or fingers may curl without conscious control. Flexing of the ankles, elbows, and other body joints occur in many patients.
4. Jerking of the head or neck. Not every tardive dyskinesia sufferer experiences this particular symptom. The spasms of the head and neck can be painful for some patients and cause injury if the motions are violent.

Treatment for the condition usually involves taking the patient off the drug that caused a person to develop tardive dyskinesia. In a small percentage of cases, a doctor may need to prescribe medication for the symptoms.