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Tardive Dyskinesia Diagnosis
The term Tardive Dyskinesia was introduced in 1964. Dyskinesia means “abnormal movement” and tardive means “late”, signifying that the dyskinesia only occurs after some time has elapsed following initial administration of the neuroleptic drug. The incidence of tardive dyskinesia varies with the type of neuroleptic, daily dose and duration of treatment (the higher the daily dose and the longer the duration of treatment, the higher the risk).
How do I know if I have TD?
You know your own body better than anyone else. First start by looking in the mirror. Do a review of any body movement. Ask yourself these questions; 1) Do I notice any unusual movement of my mouth, tongue, eyebrows, eyelids arms, legs or fingers? 2) Can I control them or are they involuntary? Next make a note of how often these movements happen and when you first noticed them. Then talk to your doctor about your observations. If you are not satisfied with the answer you get, you should seek a second opinion. Studies have shown that tardive dyskinesia is unrecognized and under-diagnosed by doctors so a second opinion is usually a good idea.
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