National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Tardive dyskinesia

Not a rare disease Not a rare disease
Other Names:
Linguofacial dyskinesia; Tardive dystonia; Tardive oral dyskinesia; Linguofacial dyskinesia; Tardive dystonia; Tardive oral dyskinesia; TD See More
Categories:
This disease is grouped under:
Tardive dyskinesia is a neurological movement disorder that is caused by the long-term use of a certain type of medications called neuroleptics. Neuroleptic drugs are usually prescribed for psychiatric conditions, although they may be used to treat gastrointestinal or neurological conditions in some cases.[1] Tardive dyskinesia is primarily characterized by repetitive involuntary movements of the jaw, lips and tongue such as grimacing; sticking out the tongue; and smacking, puckering and pursing the lips. Some affected people may also experience involuntary rapid, jerking movements (chorea) or slow, writhing movements (athetosis) of the arms and/or legs. It is unclear why some people who take neuroleptic medications develop these symptoms while others do not.[2] Treatment for this condition varies but may include stopping or minimizing the use of neuroleptic drugs and/or taking additional medications to to reduce the severity of the symptoms.[1][2]
Last updated: 12/18/2014

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Akathisia 0031943
Autosomal recessive inheritance 0000007
Tardive dyskinesia 0040141
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Last updated: 7/1/2020
Tardive dyskinesia is caused by the long-term use of certain types of medications called neuroleptics. Neuroleptic drugs are usually prescribed for psychiatric conditions; less commonly, they may be used to treat gastrointestinal or neurological conditions. Tardive dyskinesia usually develops in people who have taken these medications for many years, although some cases may occur with shorter use of the drugs. It is unclear why some people who take neuroleptic medications develop the signs and symptoms of tardive dyskinesia while others do not.[1][2]
Last updated: 12/19/2014
A diagnosis of tardive dyskinesia is typically made in people who have taken neuroleptic medications for at least three months, have signs and symptoms that are suggestive of the condition, and have undergone testing to rule out other conditions that cause similar features. This testing may include specialized laboratory tests and imaging studies such as computed tomography (CT scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scan), positron emission tomography (PET scan) and single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT scan).[3]
Last updated: 12/19/2014
The treatment for tardive dyskinesia varies from person to person. Initial treatment usually consists of discontinuing the use of neuroleptic medications if it is safe for the affected person. In people with severe psychiatric conditions, this may not be an option, although the neuroleptic drug can sometimes be replaced with an alternative medication.[1][2]

Other medications can be prescribed to specifically treat the signs and symptoms of tardive dyskinesia. In some affected people, these drugs help reduce the severity of involuntary movements. For example, a medication called tetrabenazine has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia. Other drugs such as benzodiazepines, clozapine, or botulinum toxin (Botox) injections also may be tried.[1][3]
Last updated: 12/19/2014
The long-term outlook (prognosis) for people with tardive dyskinesia varies. When diagnosed early, the condition may resolve by simply stopping the medication that caused the symptoms. However, some affected people continue to have symptoms long after the neuroleptic drug is discontinued. In these cases, the symptoms can sometimes become permenant and/or worsen over time.[1][4]
Last updated: 12/19/2014

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Tardive dyskinesia. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.
  • The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) collects and disseminates research information related to neurological disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
  • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Tardive dyskinesia. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know.

  1. NINDS Tardive Dyskinesia Information Page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. April 2014; https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Tardive-Dyskinesia-Information-Page.
  2. Tardive Dyskinesia. NORD. February 2012; http://www.rarediseases.org/rare-disease-information/rare-diseases/byID/493/viewFullReport.
  3. James Robert Brasic, MD, MPH. Tardive Dyskinesia. Medscape Reference. July 2014; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1151826-overview#a1.
  4. Tardive dyskinesia. MedlinePlus. May 2014; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000685.htm.