{"id":2975,"date":"2020-05-21T17:10:18","date_gmt":"2020-05-21T17:10:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/screening.mhanational.org\/article\/how-do-you-treat-tardive-dyskinesia\/"},"modified":"2022-11-28T16:56:49","modified_gmt":"2022-11-28T21:56:49","slug":"how-do-you-treat-tardive-dyskinesia","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/screening.mhanational.org\/es\/content\/how-do-you-treat-tardive-dyskinesia\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00bfC\u00f3mo se trata la discinesia tard\u00eda?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a movement disorder<\/strong>, where a person has uncontrollable movements of their face or body. It\u2019s a possible side effect of antipsychotic medications. [1] Finding out you have a movement disorder like TD can be scary\u2014but as time goes on, treatments for it are becoming more effective and available.<\/p>\n

Recognize the symptoms<\/h2>\n

Tardive dyskinesia often begins with slight facial tics, such as smacking your lips or sticking out your tongue. Often, people don\u2019t notice that they are doing this until someone else points it out. Since TD is not a very well-known condition, you may not immediately realize what is happening. You also may not make the connection between your movements and the medication you are taking.<\/p>\n

The sooner you recognize the symptoms of TD and speak with your healthcare provider about it, the better your chances for a successful recovery. Read our article \u201cWhat is tardive dyskinesia?<\/a>\u201d to learn more about the symptoms and causes.<\/p>\n

Talk to your doctor or psychiatrist<\/h2>\n

Speak with the doctor who prescribes your mental health medications. Tell them about any side eff\u00adects you are experiencing that could be signs of Tardive Dyskinesia. They will use a tool called the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) to determine if what you are experiencing is actually TD. [2] (It could also be another movement disorder, with a different treatment.)<\/p>\n

Many healthcare providers don\u2019t know much about TD. You may have to be persistent. If your doctor doesn\u2019t seem to be taking it seriously, it may be a good idea to find another provider and get a second opinion. If possible, try to find someone who specializes in movement disorders. (Your doctor may be able to refer you to a specialist.)<\/p>\n

Consider adjusting the medication that is causing TD<\/h2>\n

Tardive dyskinesia is a side-effect of antipsychotic medications<\/a> (and a few other medications). The simplest way of treating it is to adjust the medication that is causing it. This could mean:<\/p>\n