title: A therapeutic approach to tardive dyskinesia.
abstract: An approach to treating tardive dyskinesia and tardive akathisia was tested in 33 patients. The common denominator was the elimination of antipsychotic drugs. In 7 of 8 patients with mild tardive dyskinesia and no akathisia who were treated by drug abstinence, gradual lessening of tardive dyskinesia occurred. Complete remission was seen after 2-4 years in 5 of these 8. Treatment with reserpine and discontinuance of antipsychotic drugs was useful for patients with severe symptoms of tardive dyskinesia or akathisia; complete remission with elimination of all drugs was achieved in 4 of 19 treated patients, without recurrence of symptoms. Although tetrabenazine masked symptoms in 5 of 7 patients to whom it was administered, none was able to achieve remission of tardive dyskinesia when taken off the drug. Seven of the total 33 patients received a course of levodopa; 2 of these 7 developed recurrence of their underlying psychosis. This agent should be used with caution.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003092:Colitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008781:Methyltyrosines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000188:drug therapy; D010259:Paranoid Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects; D012110:Reserpine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013747:Tetrabenazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D008781:Methyltyrosines; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D007980:Levodopa; D012110:Reserpine; D013747:Tetrabenazine