tardive dyskinesia

My son is 15 and is autistic. He has a history of severe aggression and rage as well as seizures. He has been on a variety of medications over the past two years to try and control his behavior. Recently he developed facial tics that, after research, look like tardive dyskinesia. Naturally this has me VERY worried, especially about the permanence of this problem. The only thing I can think of that might have caused this was Seroquel. He took it at bed time for about two years. I am wondering if this is a plausible cause. He was also on Risperdal and Depakote and Trileptal and Terazadone and Lamictal, of course not all at the same time. I am sure I spelled all these meds wrong. We are having trouble finding any professional who will take an active interest in the urgency of our problem with both the aggression and the onset of these tic behaviors. We really need some help.

[mjthewriterdad]

It's amazing how much parmasists know.  I suggest ask your pharmasist about the TD.  

[junie37]

Did this agression start recently or has it always been there ?  Did your son go thru early
Puberty ?  Did it worsen then?
I have a 9 yr old autistic grandson who tho, in public school and in the correct grade for his age, is having problems with discipline while at school.  He has been homeschooled until age 6 and is on some meds ( Not sure what at this point ). I believe has add or adhd.
He seems to become easily frustrated. His parents have done just about anything they can think of in the way of treatment to help him. I'm wondering if this will lessen with age but in your case it sounds as if it hasn't.
Have you looked into Hyperbaric treatment?  It is advertised as being helpful in some cases of Autism but don't know that it is a recommended type of treatment or the possible adverse effects.
I think my daughter & husband are searching for better or different treatment as this has become such a burden for them to deal with.  It seems to be never-ending and they worry about what kind of a future he has.
Some of the public schools don't really seem to know how to deal with this and have actually caused him to sort of regress due to the wrong type of handeling or lack of understanding  his situation.  The teachers are ill-equiped to have these students in a regular classroom and yet they need to be around other kids and learn to mix, make friendships etc, which home schooling doesn't provide.
Would appreciate hearing any comments you might havve.
                                             A worried Grandma

[ILADVOCATE]

I have tardive dykinesia myself. There are many variants of it and that one could be tardive tourreticism. With myself its as severe as Parkinsons'. It can get dangerous. They are caused by a variety of medications but not the anti-seizure medications you mentioned also used as mood stabilizers (Depakoate, Lamictal) nor the anti-depressent (Tradazone) but the anti-psychotics from Risperal to Seroquel. Is he currently on an anti-psychotic? If so any responsible treatment professional would have him taken off. I could reccomend a neurologist for movement disorders but under doctor's supervision if he's on antipsychotics they must be stopped (or if neccessary Clozaril used which can't cause tardive, the study medication I'm on glycine will be a class of safe and effective anti-psychotics that can't cause it in the future). If he wasn't psychotic and it was just used for behavioral control then perhaps (constructive) behavior therapy might work. Here's a link about the various forms of tardive dyskinesia. And also a neurologist could prescribe treatment for the tardive dyskanesia.
http://www.emedicine.com/NEURO/topic362.htm