Meds for tardive dyskinesia???

I have been experiencing worsening Tardive Dyskinesia from many years of antipsychotics. I have chewing and other mouth motions, plus torso rocking, sometimes grimacing, and it hurts my mouth; it seems to be getting worse and worse lately. It's worse when I'm tired or stressed. My psychiatrist wants to put me back on Clozaril, and I hate the TD so much that I might, but Clozaril made me incontinent for four years, and sedated me so much that I couldn't keep my balance if I got up at night and it's just dumb luck I never had a bad fall. Those are just the big side effects! Does ANYONE know ANYTHING that would help in a movement disorder like this??? Please, please, help me out - my doctor wants to put me back on Clozaril in a week, and I feel like I'm out of options.

[ggreg]

Here is a government website that talks about Tardive Dyskinesia and its treatment, and it also has great links to organizations that know all about the disorder:

www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tardive/tardive.htm

I know from personal experience as a young adult, that I had a reaction to an antipsychotic, the side effect was I quickly wound up with that grimacing you've got, which my face and throat stiffened up real bad, and they gave me a shot of Valium and it reversed the effects, and of course I never took the antipsychotic category of medication again.  I didn't even realize at the time that they were giving that type of stuff to me, becuz I sure as heck wasn't psychotic!  I was just a tad nervous, is all.

The literature does say the drugs that lessen the side effects of dyskinesia are indeed the Valium (diazepam) I was given that time, and also its cousin Klonopin (clonazepam).  I'm sure the website I gave you and its links will have more ideas on how to help you get along better with your movement disorder.  

I hope you still don't have to continue taking antipsychotics.  Supposedly if you got TD, you should not take antipsychotics, unless absolutely necessary... but then, as for an antipsychotic drug that will not cause the TD condition you've got, that's still in trials.  Hope this info helps steer you in the right direction to more suitable treatment.

[ILADVOCATE]

  Clozaril is the only antipsychotic currently available that won't cause or worsen tardive. The antipsychotic agent I take glycine is still in Phase II FDA study but is part of a promising class of antipsychotics the NMDA receptor modulates that won't cause tardive or diabetes and promote a fuller recovery.
  As for treating tardive, standard options include Bachofen, Aricept, Requip and Mirapex. More experimental options include Namenda, Tetrabenzene and Zofran. Vimpat has been helpful in me and will be written up in a case study but that's a clinical first literally. One natural remedy that if supervised by a neurologist can be markedly helpful is rhodiola. Botox shots for focal dystonia are helpful if it is limited to one area. Bring this information to a neurologist who is a movement disorders specialist.

[lynnet]

my daughter is psychotic (hears voices) and was violent without meds. She needs them but has TD symptoms. She takes zyprexa. I know alot of her meds cause this but she needs the meds. Clonazepam while dangerous also didn't help her. Now she will have trouble getting off of it (see Ashton Manual online) but I cannot help her do this as she lives far away..it takes months to get off of using water titration (ashton) and I don't know what to do about it. We do have an appt with a movement specialist and will discuss what you both have to say but if you have any ideas for those who cannot stop psych meds....please. Thanks.