Treatment of tardive dyskinesia.

The pathogenesis of tardive dyskinesia is distinct from and may be functionally opposite to that of parkinsonism. The former is thought to be related to central nervous system dopaminergic hyperactivity, while the latter is known to be related to dopamine deficiency. An effective schema for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia includes avoiding antiparkinsonian medication and prescribing deanol, an acetylcholine precursor, while continuing or increasing phenothiazine dosages.