A Great Resource for Tardive Dyskinesia
Saturday July 11, 2009
Tardive dyskinesia is a movement disorder caused by long-term use of certain medications called neuroleptic drugs such as the antipsychotic medications used to treat bipolar disorder. Other drugs that increase the brain's sensitivity to the neurotransmitter dopamine may also cause this serious side effect. It is characterized by uncontrolled facial movements such as protruding tongue, chewing or sucking motions and making faces.
A friend on Twitter recently recommended the TD Center. It is a website dedicated to “helping families regain control.” I’ve been reading through their information today and it looks to be a wonderful resource so I thought I would share. It is the link provided above.
Have any of you been diagnosed with tardive dyskinesia? Did it develop over an extended period of taking medication or come on suddenly. Were you able to get the symptoms under control? Post a comment sharing your experience. ~Kimberly
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Learn more or join the conversation!
NEWSLETTER |
FORUM |
BIO |
TWITTER
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Comments
Hello, my name is Anne. I’m on 400mg of Seroquel, and I forget the exact amount for my risperdal, but it’s a high dosage. I’m on a ton of other medications as well because I’m Bipolar.
I never really noticed, but when I first started taking my medications, I would have sudden urges to blink, and not just normal blinking, more like clenching my eyes closed really quick, and a few times in a row, followed by opening my eyes as wide as I could until I could regain my sight. All of this was involuntary. But it rarely ever happened.
Just last month I decided I wanted to come off all my medications. Since then, my spasms have gotten out of control — my jaw is unbearably sore, and I can barely open my mouth wide because I keep gritting my teeth together for no reason at all! My arms and legs tend to spazz…especially my legs. While at work, I sit for 9 hours straight. Never had a problem until I started coming off the meds. Now I can’t sit still, I’m standing up every 3-5 mins having to kick my legs out repeatedly, all involuntary. Same with my arms and back, I keep having to stretch and twist. My entire body feels like the joints are cemented shut. My eyes are drying out like crazy and have become puffy and sore, and my eyesight is getting blurry. Not only that…but on my only days off I’m normally at home sleeping through the entire day and night because I have no energy, and I’m exhausted 24′7.
All of this has come on so suddenly. I see my psychiatrist next week…but I’m extremely worried about what’s happening to me. Is this normal for someone to experience this, especially being on such a high dosage of many different antipsychotic medications?
Thank you so much for your time!
Anne
The website you list is a law firm (Peterson & Peterson)trying to get clients. See the disclaimer. It may have good info, but you should make it clear it’s an advertisement.