Guide To The Types Of Chorea

Tardive Dyskinesia

Tardive dyskinesia is a form of chorea that occurs as a side effect of certain medications in the antipsychotic class used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other brain conditions. These medications work by inhibiting the effects of a chemical referred to as dopamine that helps communication between nerves and muscles. Without enough dopamine, uncontrollable jerky movements can be the result. Medications known to induce tardive dyskinesia after taking them for three months or longer include chlorpromazine, haloperidol, trifluoperazine, fluphenazine, and thioridazine. Other drugs that have caused tardive dyskinesia include metoclopramide and prochlorperazine. Symptoms of tardive dyskinesia include sticking out of the tongue unintentionally, chewing, smacking of the lips, puffing out of the cheeks, grunting, frowning, and rapid blinking of the eyes. Symptoms involving the limbs include wiggling of the fingers, tapping of the feet, flapping of the arms, thrusting of the pelvis, and swaying from one side to the other. The AIMS test, blood tests, CT scans, and MRI scans are used to diagnose tardive dyskinesia.

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