The Delicate Balance of Treatment for TD
Reviewed by Hansa Bhargava on January 14, 2021
Video Transcript
SPEAKER: You will have likely
taken
antipsychotic or neuroleptic
medications for several years
before you notice symptoms
of tardive dyskinesia, or TD.
These include twitches,
typically in the face
but also in the arms, legs,
and fingers.
Your doctor may be able to help you find a safe way to manage your TD symptoms. The first step may be to stop or change the meds that cause TD, but that may not be possible if you have a serious underlying condition. That's why it's really important to adjust your meds only with your doctor's help. Symptoms may stop after you change your medication, but in some cases, TD symptoms stick around long after you stop neuroleptic drugs.
A class of drugs called VMAT-2 inhibitors may help your TD symptoms, but they can have side effects that you should discuss with your doctor before you start on them. These include nausea, sleepiness, restlessness, and insomnia. Some doctors use vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, and other drugs that may not yet be FDA approved for tardive dyskinesia. Be sure to discuss all the pros and cons of these medicines as well as the side effects with your doctor.
Your doctor may be able to help you find a safe way to manage your TD symptoms. The first step may be to stop or change the meds that cause TD, but that may not be possible if you have a serious underlying condition. That's why it's really important to adjust your meds only with your doctor's help. Symptoms may stop after you change your medication, but in some cases, TD symptoms stick around long after you stop neuroleptic drugs.
A class of drugs called VMAT-2 inhibitors may help your TD symptoms, but they can have side effects that you should discuss with your doctor before you start on them. These include nausea, sleepiness, restlessness, and insomnia. Some doctors use vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, and other drugs that may not yet be FDA approved for tardive dyskinesia. Be sure to discuss all the pros and cons of these medicines as well as the side effects with your doctor.
