Guide To Diagnosing, Preventing, And Treating Tardive Dyskinesia

Medications

Some individuals affected by tardive dyskinesia have severe cases of psychiatric disorders that are unable to be managed without the particular medication causing this reaction. In such cases, after other methods of treatment have failed to manage both the psychiatric disorder and tardive dyskinesia in the individual, other medications may be necessary to help subdue the abnormal muscle movements. Benzodiazepines are a type of drug with a profound effect on the neurotransmitters in an individual's brain, including gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). These medications can reduce the hyperactive nerve activity in an individual's brain causing the abnormal and involuntary movements. Clozapine is another drug that may be used in a patient with tardive dyskinesia that cannot lower or come off their antipsychotic medication. Clozapine inhibits receptors in the patient's brain, including acetylcholine receptors. Acetylcholine is an important substance that allows an individual's nerves to tell their muscles to contract. Clozapine depresses this effect, causing the abnormal muscle movements to ease up in some patients. An injection called botulinum toxin may be used to temporarily paralyze specific muscles that may be affected by tardive dyskinesia.

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