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What drugs cause tardive dyskinesia?

Medically reviewed by Sally Chao, MD. Last updated on Dec 14, 2023.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Certain types of medicines that block dopamine receptors in the brain can cause tardive dyskinesia when used for several weeks or more. These medicines include antipsychotics, antidepressants and antiemetics. Tardive dyskinesia is a condition of involuntary movement of the face, torso and other body parts.

Examples of drugs that report tardive dyskinesia as a side effect are listed below by class of medication.

Antipsychotic drugs

Typical antipsychotic drugs (also known as first-generation antipsychotic drugs) are prescribed to treat schizophrenia. Some of these drugs also treat nausea and vomiting, as well as other conditions. They include:

Atypical antipsychotic drugs

Atypical antipsychotic drugs (second-generation) are also used to treat schizophrenia and other conditions such as bipolar disorder. They are less likely to cause tardive dyskinesia than the first-generation antipsychotics, but the risk is still there. They include:

  • Risperdal, Risperdal Consta (risperidone) – also used to treat autism
  • Zyprexa, Zyprexa Relprevv and Zyprexa Zydis (olanzapine)
  • Seroquel and Seroquel XR (quetiapine)
  • Geodon (ziprasidone)
  • Abilify and Aristada (aripiprazole) – also used to treat depression, autism and Tourette’s syndrome
  • Invega (paliperidone)
  • Latuda (lurasidone) – also used to treat depressive episodes

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Antidepressants

Antidepressants are prescribed to treat depression and other conditions. They include:

  • Amitriptyline
  • Trazodone

Antiemetics

Antiemetics are used to treat nausea and vomiting and other conditions associated with the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. These include:

  • Reglan (metoclopramide) – used to treat diabetic gastroparesis and reflux
  • Compro (prochlorperazine)

Tardive dyskinesia treatments

Sometimes, health care providers may recommend stopping or decreasing the dosage of the medicines causing tardive dyskinesia. If this doesn’t work to eliminate symptoms, there are two brand-name medicines available that are Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved to treat tardive dyskinesia. They belong to a class of drugs known as vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors:

  • Ingrezza (valbenazine)
  • Austedo (deutetrabenazine)

What is tardive dyskinesia?

Some medications may change dopamine signaling in the brain, resulting in involuntary body movements. The movements of tardive dyskinesia can affect daily life and can sometimes be permanent as a result of medication. Symptoms may include:

  • Facial movements, such as frowning, jaw swinging, chewing and blinking
  • Finger twitching
  • Feeling restless
  • Pelvic thrusting
References
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  13. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Seroquel (quetiapine) tablets, for oral use. September 2020. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/020639s070lbl.pdf. [Accessed December 20, 2021].
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  23. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Austedo (deutetrabenazine) tablets, for oral use. April 2017. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/208082s000lbl.pdf. [Accessed December 20, 2021].
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