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Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a real, chronic condition
It means having body movements you can’t control.
TD is not a side effect. It’s a condition where people experience persistent, uncontrollable movements in different parts of their bodies. These movements can be rapid and jerky or slow and writhing, and they can vary in severity.
If it feels like uncontrollable movements are taking control of your body, it could be TD.
Even mild movements from TD could have emotional and social consequences.* They can cause worry, frustration, and self-consciousness. It’s important to know that diagnosis and treatment by a healthcare provider may help you manage your TD.
*Results based on a survey of 397 people diagnosed with TD (n=173) or suspected of TD (n=224) who were asked, “Tardive dyskinesia may impact you in many different ways. To what extent has tardive dyskinesia impacted you in each of the following areas?” Answers ranged on a scale of 1 (not impacted at all) to 7 (extremely impacted).
What does TD look like?
TD movements occur in one or more spots of the body and are often seen in the lips, jaw, tongue, and eyes. They can also affect other parts of the body, including the upper body, arms, hands, legs, and feet.
TD movements may contribute to making daily activities* like buttoning a shirt, walking, or drinking liquids more difficult or frustrating. Feeling unable to maintain daily tasks due to these uncontrollable body movements might affect more than your physical being—they may also start to affect your mental well‑being.
*Results based on a survey of 397 people diagnosed with TD (n=173) or suspected of TD (n=224) who were asked, “Tardive dyskinesia may impact you in many different ways. To what extent has tardive dyskinesia impacted you in each of the following areas?” Answers ranged on a scale of 1 (not impacted at all) to 7 (extremely impacted).
TD can look or feel different from day to day
TD movements may:
- Be rapid and jerky, or slow and writhing
- Occur in a repetitive, continuous, or random pattern
- Present as face twitching, involuntary eye movements, darting tongue, piano fingers, clenched jaw, rocking torso, and gripping feet
- Become worse with stress
Examples of TD Symptoms
Lip puckering, pouting, or smacking
Actor portrayalsWhat causes shaking hands or uncontrollable shaking of your body or limbs may not be TD. Because there are different kinds of movement disorders, your healthcare provider will ask you to perform a variety of movements or actions to help figure out what movement disorder might be affecting you.
Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a condition in which people taking certain mental health medicines (antipsychotics) experience uncontrollable movements in different parts of their bodies.
Uncontrollable body movements from TD can make it hard to maintain your mental well-being.
Abnormal dopamine signaling in the brain can cause TD movements in the:
- Lips
- Jaw
- Eyes
- Tongue
- Torso
- Upper Limbs
- Lower Limbs
What causes TD?
Taking certain mental health medicines (antipsychotics) for a few months is thought to cause too much dopamine activity in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical in the brain that plays a role in how we move. Too much dopamine activity in the brain could lead to uncontrollable body movements (TD). And those movements may keep controlling your body.
Antipsychotics are prescribed to treat conditions like:
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizoaffective disorder
- Anxiety disorder
Other medicines used to treat upset stomach, nausea, and vomiting may also cause TD.
Medications that may cause TD
If you are taking or have taken any of the following medications and are experiencing uncontrolled movements, it’s important to share this information with your healthcare provider. Understanding your treatment history can help your healthcare provider determine if your movements may be TD.
First-generation antipsychotics
- Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
- Molindone (Moban)
- Fluphenazine (Prolixin)
- Loxapine (Loxitane)
- Haloperidol (Haldol)
- Perphenazine (Trilafon)
- Thioridazine (Mellaril)
- Thiothixene (Navane)
- Trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
Second-generation antipsychotics
- Aripiprazole (Abilify)
- Asenapine (Saphris)
- Brexpiprazole (Rexulti)
- Cariprazine (Vraylar)
- Clozapine (Clozaril)
- Iloperidone (Fanapt)
- Loxapine (Loxitane)
- Lumateperone (Caplyta)
- Lurasidone (Latuda)
- Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
- Paliperidone (Invega)
- Quetiapine (Seroquel, Seroquel XR)
- Risperidone (Risperdal)
- Ziprasidone (Geodon)
Other medicines that may cause TD
- Prochlorperazine (Compazine, Compro)
- Promethazine (Phenergan, Promethegan, Phenadoz)
- Trimethobenzamide (Tebamide, Tigan)
- Thiethylperazine (Torecan)
- Metoclopramide (Reglan)
For educational purposes only. Not intended as an exhaustive list of medications that may cause TD. Be sure to discuss any specific questions or concerns with your healthcare provider.
Do not stop taking your medicines without talking to your healthcare provider.
When can td start?
TD symptoms may start a few months or even years after taking certain mental health medicines (antipsychotics). In some cases, symptoms may not be seen until after the medicines are stopped.
In addition to taking mental health medicine, the following factors may also play a role in your risk for TD:
- Being 50 years of age or older
- Being postmenopausal
- Substance abuse
- Having a mood disorder
Never change or stop taking your medicine without speaking with your healthcare provider.
TD Treatment options are available.
Learn about a prescription medicineLooking to take the first step in managing your uncontrollable body movements? Talk to a specialist.
Find psychiatrists, neurologists, and other advanced-practice healthcare providers experienced with diagnosing and treating TD. Talk about your uncontrollable body movements with them and learn about treatments that could help you manage TD.
You can use the Doctor Discussion Guide to get helpful info on how to have a productive in-person or telemedicine appointment.
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Jeff was compensated by Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. to share his story
“[People] see that I have challenges like schizophrenia and tardive dyskinesia. And they see all that I’m able to do despite these disorders. If I can do it, then other people can do it as well.”
–Jeff
living with schizophrenia
and tardive dyskinesia