Posted by syringachalet on December 24, 2002, at 22:07:50
In reply to Re: Tardive Diskinesia pictures-judy-, posted by Tepiaca on December 23, 2002, at 14:28:50
Judy,
Tardive Dyskinesia is a permentent neurological sydrome that its symptoms mimic advanced Parkinsons disease.Although the symptoms can sometimes be reduced by changes in medications, once TD is diagnosised, it almost never totally leaves. Today even having EPS will cause a psych doc to be careful. That is why drugs like SSRIs and other new drugs might take longer to work for the patiewnt but they are so much safer regarding risk of TD.
The majority of those with TD are those whom have been on long term psychotropic medications in the familys of tricyclics( Elavil), benzodyasipanes(Prolixin) , and sedative-hyponotics(Xanax).
It is thought that long term use of these medications cause the brain to permentally need them to 'turn down ' the brain noise/confusion and allow the cognetive part of the brain 'catch up with the emotional' part of the brain.
After months or in most people years of med use, the body builds up a tolerance to the drugs theraputic effects and the neruo systems decides to 'have a mind of its own'.It might just be a eye twitch and a hand tremor or pill rolling to start, later leg jerking, neck hyperextension, and athatoid tongue(snake-like movements). The person having these behaviors may or may not be independentally aware to these actions and most have no control.
I have seen several long term psychic patients who had advanced TD. They had difficulty in walking, speaking, eating/drinking and eventually breathing. Most die from complications of starvation/malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia or accidents.
If you look at Michel J. Fox(actor and Parkinson research activist) or Janet Reno( former high U. S. government offical. Probably the one most visible example of these type of symptoms of Parkinson type behavior is Mohammand Ali.It is because of things like TD, that psych docs now are so cautious prescribing those meds described eariler for long term use.
Sorry that this is so long....
syringachalet
poster:syringachalet
thread:132791
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021223/msgs/133117.html