Tardive Dyskinesia

Tardive dyskinesia is a syndrome defined by the emergence of hyperkinetic involuntary movements after the exposure to dopamine receptor antagonists, mainly antipsychotics and antiemetics. It involves two main clinical presentations: orofaciolingual and limb-truncal dyskinesias. There are several nonmodifiable (e.g., age, sex) and modifiable (e.g., dose and duration of exposure) risk factors for tardive dyskinesia. In this context, long-term use of dopamine antagonists should be avoided whenever possible to prevent the development of this condition. Once tardive dyskinesia develops, if the withdrawal of the antipsychotic is not possible, switching to another one with lower risk is recommended. VMAT2 inhibitors can also be used for symptomatic treatment.