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Tardive Dyskinesia

By Kimberly Read & Marcia Purse, About.com

Updated: August 28, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Definition:
Tardive Dyskinesia is a movement disorder caused by long-term use of certain psychiatric drug, most notably antipsychotic medications. The symptoms of tardive dyskinesia include uncontrolled facial movements, and hand, arm and leg movements can also occur. This is a very serious side effect, and symptoms of tardive dyskinesia should be reported to your prescribing physician as soon as possible after they appear.

For an in-depth look at tardive dyskinesia, the drugs that cause it, symptoms and treatment, see:

Pronunciation:
TAR-div dis-kə-NEE-zhə
Common Misspellings: tardiv, dyskenisia, diskinesia, diskenisia, dyskinisia, etc.

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