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Dopamine-blocking medications linked to tardive dyskinesia
May 6th, 2009 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
This is a YouTube user’s wife. She suffers from tardive dyskinesia as a result of being over-prescribed the atypical antipsychotic Geodon. Tardive dyskinesia is a condition in which a person develops involuntary movements of their muscles, which can include lip smacking, tongue thrusting, eye blinking and buldging, head jerking, facial grimacing, pucker and pursing of the lips, and involuntary movements of the fingers.
While several antipsychotic and some antidepressants have been linked to the condition, more drugs are being added to the list of possible culprits. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black box warning to consumers and healthcare providers warning of the risk of tardive dyskinesia with the long-term or high-dose use of metoclopramide, more commonly known as Reglan, a medication prescribed for the treatment of disorders like heartburn caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease. Elderly patients, especially women, are at an increased risk of developing the condition while using Reglan.
The medicines that can cause tardive dyskinesia affect how nerve impulses are transmitted across gaps between nerve cells. This is done in part by blocking a chemical made by the body called dopamine. (Reglan is considered a dopamine receptor blocking agent.) Over time, the nerves seem to become hypersensitive to dopamine, causing abnormal movements.
There is currently no cure for the condition, however in some patients, symptoms may lesson or resolve after coming off the medication. The FDA has advised physicians to avoid long term use of Reglan except in rare cases where the benefit outweighs the risks.
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