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Symptoms of Tardive Dyskinesia
Tardive dyskinesia is a severe neurological disorder with permanent symptoms affecting several muscular groups in the body. Tardive dyskinesia is not a disorder solely causing cosmetic issues for patients, but a serious disease that could be life threatening and with social, physical and emotional consequences on the patient that are irreversible. Tardive dyskinesia typically causes involuntary movements in the lower half of the face, but does affect other parts of the body as well, including the limbs and digits. Symptoms become more pronounced as sufferers attempt to relax, yet completely go away during sleep which is most likely due to the shift in dopamine receptors that occur during sleep.
The symptoms of tardive dyskinesia make normal communication near impossible for its sufferers and include involuntary
- Facial grimacing
- Swinging of the jaw
- Repetitive chewing
- Tongue thrusting and twisting
- Puckering & smacking of the lips
- Rapid eye blinking & eyebrow raising
- Grunts and humming
- Pelvic thrusting
- Fingers mimicking movements of piano playing
Read about: Other Effects of Taking Reglan® »
For more information about tardive dyskinesia, call 1-800-214-1600 or fill out the form.
Other Side Effects of Taking Reglan®
In severe cases, tardive dyskinesia patients can develop Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, which is a life-threatening condition where the patient has high fever, unstable blood pressure, delirium, coma, or could even result in death. This condition occurs in about 1 percent of tardive dyskinesia patients, but the condition is fatal in 20 percent of those who have it.
Other side effects of Reglan® may be revealed during withdrawal from stopping the drug, such as symptoms associated with Parkinson's Disease (difficulty moving muscles in the body, tremors). Reglan® has triggered seizures or convulsions in users and patients with epilepsy have an increased risk of developing these symptoms.
Some Other Tardive-related Illnesses That Reglan® Usage Can Cause
- Tardive psychosis which is associated with psychotic depression and dissociation
- Tardive dysphrenia which is the worsening of hallucinations and delusions if medication was originally taken as an antipsychotic; usually caused by three or more months of Reglan® use
- Tardive dysmentia which causes an exaggerated response to environmental stimuli, occasional excessive emotional reactions and a reduced awareness of the abnormal involuntary movements of tardive dyskinesia
Reglan® Has Also Caused
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Agitation
- Sleep difficulties
- Suicidal thoughts
- Dry mouth
- Gastrointestinal disorders (ironic as it was prescribed to alleviate these)
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Loss of bladder control
- Dizziness
- Vision changes
- Excessive breast tenderness in females
- Gynecomastia (breast development in males)
In Rare Occurrences, Reglan® Can Cause
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Chills
- Symptoms associated with liver disease such as vomiting, nausea, dark urine & jaundice (yellowing of the eyes & skin)
Conditions Often Confused With Tardive Dyskinesia
Tardive dyskinesia is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease or even akathesia. Both Parkinson's and akathesia are movement disorders.
- Parkinson's disease is an illness that causes tremors and slows down the body's muscles, making it difficult to move
- Akathesia causes leg spasms, restlessness & the need to constantly move the legs, or walk around.
For more information about tardive dyskinesia, call 1-800-214-1600 or fill out the form.
