The crippling side effect of certain prescribed medications known as tardive dyskinesia affects at least 20 percent of patients who take antipsychotic drugs long-term. Most are identified by uncontrollable muscle movements; much like parkinson’s disease, the disorder causes involuntary jerks, tics, and joint stiffness.
However, it’s important not to confuse the two, and here’s why:
Although tardive dyskinesia is often mistaken for symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, the two conditions are similar, but there are important differences. According to the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, Tardive Dyskinesia and Parkinson’s Disease are both categorized as movement disorders and are linked to dopamine, which carries signals from the brain throughout the body and regulates bodily functions. Both can result from certain medications; however, the similarities stop there. For one, the symptoms of Parkinson’s and tardive dyskinesia have opposite effects on patients’ motor skills.
The most recent and probably lesser-known direct link to tardive dyskinesia, besides the most prevalent neuroleptics, butyrophenones, diphenylbutylpiperidines, Indolones, Phenothiazines, and thioxanthene medications, is the drug Reglan. Used as a short-term treatment for heartburn and acid reflux, Reglan (metoclopramide) is a prescribed medication that increases muscle contractions in the upper digestive tract. This speeds up how quickly the stomach empties into the intestines. However, if taken for over 12 weeks, it can cause tardive dyskinesia.
One of the factors that prevent patients from recognizing Reglan side effects is their similarity to other neurological health problems like Parkinson’s. In fact, Reglan side effects include uncontrollable muscle movements of your lips, tongue, eyes, face, arms, or legs. The longer you take Reglan, the more likely you are to develop a serious movement disorder. Women, people with diabetes, and older adults are at higher risk.
According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, scientists haven’t determined the exact cause of Parkinson’s disease but believe a combination of genetic and environmental factors are involved. People with Parkinson’s experience movement difficulties, including slowness and rigidity. Furthermore, the movements associated with tardive dyskinesia are more fluid and less jerky than the spasms and stiffness experienced by those with Parkinson’s.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s include muscular rigidity, tremors and shaking, impaired speech, and loss of movement ability. Tardive dyskinesia can cause tongue-thrusting, fluttering fingers, restless legs, toe-tapping, and facial tics, including lip-smacking, pursing, grimacing, and rapid blinking.
Those who have taken Reglan and think they have Parkinson’s disease could also benefit from speaking with a doctor. According to the Tardive Dyskinesia Center, Reglan has been linked to symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Some patients who had Parkinson’s prior to taking Reglan say they noticed greater difficulty moving after taking the drug. Seek out more information by finding a specialist you can trust on our Find A Doctor page on BlackDoctor.
More Information
The Parkinson’s Foundation has more on living well with Parkinson’s Disease.
Tia Muhammad, BS, is an award-winning freelance content & media creative, copywriter, blogger, digital designer, and marketing consultant. She owns the boutique content and digital media company, jackieGLDN|studio.
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