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Signs and symptoms of tardive dyskinesia 

The signs of tardive dyskinesia (TD) can be mild, so you may not notice them at first. But they can change over time. 

It's important to speak to a doctor if you notice any signs or symptoms of TD.

I first experienced finger and small muscle twitches and spasms which gradually got worse.

What are the signs of tardive dyskinesia?

The main sign of tardive dyskinesia (TD) is making movements which you don't usually make. And which are totally out of your control.

Normally, the first sign of TD is irregular tongue movements. These might be very small and you might not even notice them at first.

What symptoms can tardive dyskinesia cause?

You might have mild symptoms that you hardly notice. Or you might find symptoms severely impact your day-to-day life. How much the symptoms of TD affect you can change over time.

These are some symptoms that TD may cause. They could be in your face or body, or both. 

Jerky movements

These are irregular movements which are not rhythmic. For example:

  • Lip smacking
  • Moving your mouth, jaw or tongue
  • Tapping or moving your hands or feet
  • Movement in your hips
  • Movement in your upper body
  • Blinking your eyes a lot
  • Puffing out your cheeks
  • Making noises or facial expressions you cannot control

Slow movements

These are flowing movements. For example:

  • Writhing or squirming
  • Wiggling or twisting your fingers, arms, legs, neck or tongue

Muscle spasms

These are movements where your muscles suddenly tighten. They might last for a short time or longer periods. They could cause:

  • Voice problems
  • Difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • Changes to your posture

If you experience these types of muscle spasm, you might hear this called tardive dystonia. For more information, visit the Dystonia UK website.

I had neck stiffness for two weeks and then developed a twitch in my right arm. This quickly developed into both arms cramping regularly. My arm would cramp and spasm and my thumb would end up touching my shoulder.

How might the symptoms of tardive dyskinesia affect my mental health?

Experiencing signs and symptoms of TD can make it hard to do day-to-day activities. It can also be very stressful or upsetting. For example, you may feel:

  • Self-conscious about movements caused by TD
  • Upset that you can't control what your body is doing
  • Uncomfortable and restless
  • Tired if the movements happen a lot
  • Angry, particularly if you didn't know about TD as a side effect of medication
  • That it's very hard or impossible to predict when you'll experience symptoms

Having TD has made me very socially anxious and shy. I am constantly aware of my twitches and I wonder if people notice and, if so, what they are thinking...

What should I do if I notice any signs or symptoms of tardive dyskinesia?

If you're taking any medication and think you might be experiencing TD, it's important to speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice. To speak to someone right away, you can contact NHS 111 England or NHS 111 Wales.

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible. Even if the signs seem mild, or you aren't sure whether they're TD. There might be things you can do to reduce the chance of TD becoming more severe.

You can also report side effects to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) through its Yellow Card Scheme. This can help to make sure information that comes with medication can accurately describe any possible side effects.  

Conditions and diagnoses similar to tardive dyskinesia​​

The symptoms of TD are similar to some other physical health conditions that can develop in adults. It's important to rule out these conditions so you can get the right treatment.

The NHS website has information about these similar conditions:

If you have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, you may have experienced unusual movements before taking any medication. This may include moving your legs and arms a lot or being restless.

This might make it hard to recognise or pick out the symptoms of TD.

Published: January 2025

Next review planned: January 2028

References and bibliography available on request.

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