Things to note about tardive dyskinesia

Tardive dyskinesia, also known as tardive hyperactivity disorder, is mainly caused by antipsychotic drugs. Due to long-term and excessive use of antipsychotic drugs, a group of muscles in the body will involuntarily undergo regular and repetitive movements. The chance of this disease occurring mainly varies with the type of antipsychotic drugs taken, the duration of medication, the dosage of the drugs, and individual differences.

Although this disease is caused by taking antipsychotic drugs, the condition will worsen once the antipsychotic drugs are stopped. However, if the dosage of antipsychotic drugs is increased, tardive dyskinesia will be temporarily alleviated. Let's take a look at the precautions for this disease.

This disease mostly occurs in the elderly, especially women, especially those with organic brain lesions. The symptoms are often severe, recovery is slow, and people with emotional disorders are also prone to it. Various antipsychotics can cause it, and fluorine-containing antipsychotics such as fluphenazine, trifluoperazine and haloperidol are more common. Most patients have taken antipsychotics for more than 1 to 2 years, with the shortest duration of 3 months and the longest duration of 13 years.

1. Increase the dosage as slowly as possible and try to avoid long-term or high-dose use of antipsychotics;

2. Avoid the combined use of two or more antipsychotic drugs;

3. Use less or no anti-Parkinson's drugs as much as possible; when stopping or changing antipsychotic drugs, the dosage should be gradually reduced rather than stopped abruptly;

4. The elderly and weak or those with organic brain diseases should be given the lowest dose; anticholine drugs should not be used or used less unless necessary;

5. Early detection and early treatment. Once symptoms appear, the dosage of antipsychotic drugs should be reduced or replaced with other drugs, and the drugs should be stopped if necessary.

Tardive dyskinesia can be treated, but the treatment effect is not ideal, so preventing tardive dyskinesia is more important than treating it. Patients with schizophrenia can take antipsychotic drugs, but if they suffer from depression, etc., they should not take antipsychotic drugs, so prevention is the key.