Got side effects? There’s a medicine for that
What is tardive dyskinesia?
Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a condition marked by involuntary movements of the face or limbs, such as rapid eye blinking, grimacing, or pushing out the tongue. TD is caused by long-term use of certain drugs, many of which treat psychosis.TD may be irreversible. Early recognition is key to improvement and preventing symptoms from getting worse. If you take antipsychotic medicines or other drugs that can cause TD, tell your prescribing health care provider right away about any worrisome symptoms.It’s an unfortunate reality: all medicines can cause side effects. While there are a few tried-and-true ways to deal with drug side effects, here’s a less common option to consider: adding a second medication.
That’s the approach taken with valbenazine (Ingrezza), a drug approved for a condition called tardive dyskinesia that’s caused by certain medicines, most of which are for mental health. Let’s dive into what TD is, how this drug is advertised, and what else to consider if a medicine you take causes TD.