Signs Of Tardive Dyskinesia

Tardive dyskinesia is a neurological disorder that makes it difficult for individuals to properly control their motions, making it quite difficult to perform daily tasks. Roughly 500,000 individuals in the United States alone have tardive dyskinesia. This disorder often occurs when a person has been taking antipsychotic medications for a while. Though antipsychotics are quite helpful for certain mental health conditions, their dopamine suppressing effect can cause some nervous system issues. Being able to notice whether or not they have tardive dyskinesia can help patients decide if they need to talk to a doctor about switching to other medications. Be on the lookout for these major symptoms of tardive dyskinesia.

Stick Out Tongue Without Trying

The motions associated with tardive dyskinesia, including sticking out the tongue without trying, are involuntary. Some patients may not even notice it is occurring, and it can happen even when they are actively trying to stop it from happening. There is a huge range of tongue motions individuals encounter. Individuals who stick out their tongue without trying may just poke the tip of their tongue out of their mouth, or they may stretch out their tongue altogether. Sometimes the tongue remains relatively stable once it is stuck out, or this symptom may cause them to roll up their tongue, wag it from side to side, or wiggle it around the mouth. This symptom is not typically dangerous or inconvenient, but it can cause a lot of self-confidence issues for patients. Many worry others think they may look odd or unusual when they are displaying this symptom.

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Sway From Side To Side

Not all patients with tardive dyskinesia only deal with facial issues. Though rare, it is possible for this movement disorder to affect the brain's ability to control other parts of the body. Since tardive dyskinesia tends to cause small, repeated motions, this can manifest as an uncontrollable swaying motion. Some may sway from front to back, but a sway from side to side is far more common. Swaying may manifest itself regardless of whether a patient is sitting or standing. Since it involves the entire body, it can be a very exhausting symptom. Swaying tends to come and go. This sort of symptom may occur randomly and last for several minutes, but it typically is not a nonstop issue. Some patients find when they lay down, the swaying is less likely to occur, so they can get some relief by being in a bed.

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