Drug-induced Movement Disorders

The use of dopamine receptor-blocking drugs (DRBD) may result in a variety of acute or tardive adventitious movements. Acute-onset movement disorders arising from the blockade of dopamine receptors (primarily D₂ receptors) include dystonia, parkinsonism, akathisia, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Late-onset movement disorders typically manifest three months or later after the exposure to a DRBD, with an increase in the dosage of the offending agent, or after discontinuation of treatment with the same. These late-onset disorders are referred to in general as tardive disorders and may include dyskinesia, dystonia, chorea, and akathisia.1 Historically, the field of psychiatry has used the terms tardive dyskinesia and extrapyramidal symptoms to describe oro-bucco-lingual or facial dyskinesia (OBLD) that result from the use of typical or atypical antipsychotic drugs. However, the term tardive dyskinesia, as used in this overview, refers to the any late-onset dyskinesia that results from the use of a DRBD.

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Section Author: Catherine Friederich Murray, AMWA, NASW
Editorial Reviewer: Joy B. Leffler, MLA, NASW
Medical Reviewers: Stewart A. Factor, MD

Dr. Richardson holds the patent for the use of branched-chain amino acids for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia; all royalties are assigned to the State University system of New York.