WHAT IS TARDIVE DYSKINESIA (TD)? TD means having uncontrollable body movements. TD movements may look like uncontrollable face twitching, involuntary eye movements, darting tongue, piano fingers, clenched jaw, rocking torso, and gripping feet. TD is not a side effect. It’s a real condition that affects approximately 600,000 people in the United States.
Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a persistent, involuntary movement disorder that is characterized by uncontrollable, abnormal and repetitive movements of the face, torso, limbs, and fingers or toes. The condition is associated with prolonged use of antipsychotic medication that may be necessary to treat individuals living with mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.
There are approximately 600,000 people in theUnited States living with TD, and approximately 65 percent have not yet been diagnosed. We encourage you to use this resource to help people and care partners understand TD, recognize its symptoms and have a conversation with a healthcare provider about routine screening and ways to manage TD, including treatment options.
Mental health continues to be a significant challenge in the U.S., and it’s important to include TD in the conversation because of the physical, social and emotional impacts this disorder can have on people trying to maintain mental health stability with antipsychotic medication. Proactive recognition and treatment of TD can make a positive impact in the lives of many people managing their mental illness. More information about TD is available at Neurocrine.com/TD-awareness, and resources can be accessed atTalkAboutTD.com. Certain prescription medicines (metoclopramide and prochlorperazine) used to treat gastrointestinal disorders may also cause TD.
Click on this link to learn more about Tardive Dyskinesia at TalkAboutTD https://www.talkabouttd.com/
Click this link to hear Jeff’s story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNOv1WC0RZI
Click this link to hear Shelly’s story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eokbk-r9Lmg
Click this link to hear both Jeff and Shelly’s story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plQDbZknhR8
