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Tardive dyskinesia

Definition

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a disorder that involves involuntary movements. Tardive means delayed and dyskinesia means abnormal movement.

Causes

TD is a serious side effect that may occur when you take medicines called neuroleptics. These medicines are also called antipsychotics or major tranquilizers. They are used to treat mental health issues.

TD often occurs when you take the medicine for many months or years. In some cases, it occurs after you take them for as little as 6 weeks.

Medicines that most commonly cause this disorder are older antipsychotics, including:

• Chlorpromazine

• Fluphenazine

• Haloperidol

• Perphenazine

• Prochlorperazine

• Trifluoperazine

Newer antipsychotics seem less likely to cause TD, but they are not entirely without risk.

Other medicines that can cause TD include:

• Metoclopramide (treats stomach problem called gastroparesis)

• Antidepressant medicines such as amitriptyline, fluoxetine, phenelzine, sertraline, trazodone, lithium

• Anti-Parkinson medicines such as levodopa

• Anti-seizure medicines such as phenobarbital and phenytoin

Symptoms

Symptoms of TD include uncontrollable movements of the face and body such as:

• Facial grimacing (commonly involving lower facial muscles)

• Finger movement (piano playing movements)

• Rocking or thrusting of the pelvis (duck-like gait)

• Jaw swinging

• Repetitive chewing

• Rapid eye blinking

• Tongue thrusting

• Restlessness

Treatment

When TD is diagnosed, your health care provider will either have you stop the medicine slowly or switch to another one.

If TD is mild or moderate, various medicines may be tried to treat it. A dopamine-depleting medicine, tetrabenazine is most effective treatment for TD. Valbenazine is an alternative. Your provider can tell you more about these treatments.

If TD is very severe, a procedure called deep brain stimulation (DBS) may be tried. DBS uses a device called a neurostimulator to deliver electrical signals to the areas of the brain that control movement.

Outlook (Prognosis)

If diagnosed early, TD may be reversed by stopping the medicine that caused the symptoms. Even if the medicine is stopped, the involuntary movements may become permanent, and in some cases, may become worse.

References

Aronson JK. Neuroleptic drugs. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 16th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier B.V.; 2016:53-119.

Freudenreich O, Flaherty AW. Patients with abnormal movements. In: Stern TA, Freudenreich O, Smith FA, Fricchione GL, Rosenbaum JF, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of General Hospital Psychiatry. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 21.

Okun MS, Ostrem JL. Other movement disorders. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 379.

Paudel S, Lim C, Freudenreich O. Antipsychotic drugs. In: Stern TA, Wilens TE, Fava M, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 50.

Ul Haq I, Liebenow B, Okun MS. Clinical overview of movement disorders. In: Winn HR, ed. Youmans and Winn Neurological Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 105.

Review Date: 6/13/2024

Reviewed By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.