title: Neurologic approach to drug-induced movement disorders: a study of 125 patients.
abstract: Of 125 patients with neuroleptic (dopamine blocking) drug-induced movement disorders who had been referred to a specialized clinic to differentiate the predominant movement disorder, 63% had tardive dyskinesia, 30% had parkinsonism, 24% had dystonia, 7% had akathisia, and 2% had isolated tremor. Two or more movement disorders coexisted in 31 patients (25%). Functional disability was more severe in patients with akathisia than in other patients. Women outnumbered men at a ratio of 4:1, except for tardive dystonia which affected both sexes equally. The average at onset was 56 years (range, 13 to 87); 69 patients (55%) had onset of movement disorder in the sixth decade. While tardive dystonia was distributed relatively evenly in all age groups, almost a third of patients with parkinsonism had it in the eighth decade. Haloperidol was implicated in 47 patients (37%), followed by amitriptyline/perphenazine in 30%, thioridazine in 27%, and chlorpromazine in 20%. Metoclopramide-induced movement disorders were found in 10 (8%). Most patients (101 or 81%) had history of psychiatric illnesses, but of these only 44 had psychosis. Neuroleptic drugs had been prescribed for 33 patients (26%) who had gastrointestinal problems. It is important to recognize and differentiate various drug-induced movement disorders because such differentiation has pathophysiologic and therapeutic implications. Many patients could have been treated with less potent drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jankovic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002819:Chorea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004421:Dystonia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D010546:Perphenazine / Q000009:adverse effects; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation; D012737:Sex Factors; D014202:Tremor / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000639:Amitriptyline; D010546:Perphenazine; D006220:Haloperidol