Tardive dyskinesia.

The etiology, pharmacology, treatment and possible prevention of tardive dyskinesia (TD) are discussed. This neurological disorder, characterized by involuntary movements of the lips, jaws and tongue, can occur as a result of short-term antipsychotic drug therapy, but usually occurs after long-term treatment. Phenothiazines, the thioxanthines, butyrophenones, dibenzoxazepines and dihydroindolines also posess the potential for inducing TD. Methods of treatment of TD with dopamine-depleting agents, dopamine-blocking agents and cholinomimetics are discussed. Despite the apparent effectiveness of some drugs in the treatment of TD, it should be kept in mind that most of the studies demonstrating drug effectiveness involved a small number of patients.