What is Tardive Dyskinesia?
Tardive dyskinesia is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements of the face, tongue, and limbs. It is often a side effect of long-term use of certain medications, particularly antipsychotic drugs used to treat certain psychiatric conditions. Symptoms include facial grimacing, lip smacking, tongue protrusion, and jerking or twisting movements of the limbs. Tardive dyskinesia can impact quality of life, but early diagnosis and management can help mitigate its effects. Regular monitoring by healthcare professionals is crucial for those at risk or already experiencing symptoms.
Typical Symptoms of Tardive Dyskinesia
- Fine nystagmus
- Eye movement disorder
- Blepharospasm
- Restless legs syndrome
- Involuntary movements of the lower limbs
- Facial spasms
- Tremors in fingers and/or body
Treatment of Tardive Dyskinesia
Treatment involves adjusting anti-psychotic medication dosages, prescribing specific medications to reduce symptoms, and considering therapies such as deep brain stimulation. Physical therapy and occupational therapy may also help manage movement difficulties and improve quality of life. Regular monitoring and individualized treatment plans are crucial for managing tardive dyskinesia effectively.
Reviewed By:

Kenji Taylor, MD, MSc (Family Medicine, Primary Care)
Dr. Taylor is a Japanese-African American physician who grew up and was educated in the United States but spent a considerable amount of time in Japan as a college student, working professional and now father of three. After graduating from Brown, he worked in finance first before attending medical school at Penn. He then completed a fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control before going on to specialize in Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where he was also a chief resident. After a faculty position at Stanford, he moved with his family to Japan where he continues to see families on a military base outside of Tokyo, teach Japanese residents and serve remotely as a medical director for Roots Community Health Center. He also enjoys editing and writing podcast summaries for Hippo Education.

Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Jul 8, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Vasan S, Padhy RK. Tardive Dyskinesia. [Updated 2023 Apr 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448207/Cornett EM, Novitch M, Kaye AD, Kata V, Kaye AM. Medication-Induced Tardive Dyskinesia: A Review and Update. Ochsner J. 2017 Summer;17(2):162-174. PMID: 28638290; PMCID: PMC5472076.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5472076/Debrey, S. M., & Goldsmith, D. R. (2021). Tardive Dyskinesia: Spotlight on Current Approaches to Treatment. Focus, 19(1), 14–23.
https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.focus.20200038