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Causes of tardive dyskinesia
Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a side effect of some medications. But people react differently to different drugs. Certain things may increase your risk of developing it.
This page covers:
- What causes tardive dyskinesia?
- Risk factors for developing tardive dyskinesia
- Parkinson's symptoms and drugs
- Can I make a complaint if I get tardive dyskinesia?
This page is part of our guide to:
What causes tardive dyskinesia?
Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a side effect of medication, most commonly from antipsychotic drugs. These drugs may be part of your treatment if you have a diagnosis of:
- Psychosis
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- Severe depression or anxiety, though this is less common
- Severe nausea, vomiting or migraines, though this is less common
TD can also be a side effect of other drugs used to treat physical conditions.
It's thought that TD develops because of the way these medications change levels of the chemical dopamine in your brain. Our pages on antipsychotics have more information about how these drugs work.
Doctors don't always remember to tell people about this risk when they prescribe medication like antipsychotics. The side effects of any medication should be listed in the patient information leaflet (PIL) you get with medication.
If your health condition is severe, your doctor may think that the treatment is necessary, no matter the side effect. There are also some situations where you can be given medication without your consent.
Risk factors for developing tardive dyskinesia
Anyone taking antipsychotic drugs is at risk of developing TD. It's listed as a common or very common side effect for antipsychotic medication.
All drugs affect people differently, so it's not possible to tell whether you will get a particular side effect. But the main risk factors are:
- How long you've been taking antipsychotic medication. The longer you're on medication, the greater the risk that you might develop TD.
- What dose you're on. Taking a higher dose makes developing TD more likely.
- Which antipsychotic you take. Older antipsychotics, known as first-generation, are particularly associated with causing TD. Newer or second-generation antipsychotics were developed with the aim of reducing side effects like TD. But they can still cause it. Although medical professionals think newer drugs are less likely to cause TD, the difference is still unclear.
Once you have TD, stopping and starting antipsychotics can also increase the risk of your TD becoming more severe.
It's very important to talk to a doctor before deciding to come off medication.
It's also possible to develop TD after you stop taking medication.
Some research suggests that you may be more likely to develop TD if you:
- Are over the age of 50
- Are female
- Are post-menopause
- Are Black
- Have a drug or alcohol addiction
- Have diabetes
- Have a learning disability
- Have a brain injury or dementia
The risk may be greater if more than one of these applies to you.
Parkinson's symptoms and drugs
Antipsychotics can also cause other side effects that affect your movement. This is especially with particularly older, first-generation antipsychotics. This may include symptoms that mimic Parkinson's, such as:
- Shaking
- Stiffness
- Slow movements
- Difficulty walking
Experiencing these symptoms is sometimes called Parkinsonism.
If you develop any of these side effects, you may be more likely to develop TD. You may be offered Parkinson's drugs to help control these symptoms. But Parkinson's drugs themselves are also associated with the development of TD.
You should only be offered Parkinson's drugs if:
- You’ve already developed Parkinsonism as a side effect of your antipsychotic medication
- The symptoms are very difficult to live with
For more information on Parkinson's drugs and their side effects, visit our page on Parkinson's drugs or the Parkinson's UK website.
Can I make a complaint if I get tardive dyskinesia?
It may be clinical negligence if you begin to develop TD and your doctor does nothing about it. Of if they don't spot that you're showing signs of TD.
Clinical negligence means a healthcare professional has failed in their duty to take care of you. And that you experienced damage or loss because of that failure.
If you've experienced this, our pages on complaining about health and social care have information that may help.
You can also contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). This NHS service gives confidential, impartial advice on problems experienced in NHS healthcare.
Our page on psychiatric medication has more information about what you should know before taking medication.
I had a year-long psychosis as a teenager. Treating the psychosis was utterly prioritised – the side effects of the medication were not properly explained to me or my family as far as I can remember.
See more on tardive dyskinesia (TD)
Signs and symptoms of tardive dyskinesia
- Causes of tardive dyskinesia
Published: January 2025
Next review planned: January 2028
References and bibliography available on request.
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