Vocalizations, Breathing and Swallowing - Tardive Dyskinesia Symptoms

The most apparent and often embarrassing manifestations of tardive dyskinesia are often the uncontrollable facial tics. Examples include vacuous chewing motions, lip smacking and worm-like movements of the tongue. This can not only involve audible vocalizations, but symptoms can also interfere with proper breathing and swallowing - creating a potentially life-threatening condition.

When the symptoms of tardive dyskinesia began to surface in 1957, they were referred to as bucco-linguo-masticatory syndrome, literally meaning cheek-tongue-chewing. The most pronounced symptoms of what was eventually named tardive dyskinesia seven years later were noted around the mouth. The motions are coordinated and patterned, increase with emotional arousal and can disappear completely during sleep.

Breathing Issues and Withdrawl Symptoms

A 1993 study in a Paris hospital involved ten patients suffering from "general dyskinesias," six of which were tardive dyskinesia patients diagnosed due to the side effects of neuroleptic (psychoactive) drugs used in the treatment of mental illness. (Such medications operate to block dopamine receptors, which control not only emotion and cognitive function, but voluntary muscle movement as well.) The researchers found the movement disorders affected the upper airway, interfering in a potentially fatal manner with respiration. As is the case with Parkinson's disease, tardive dyskinesia can and does result in respiratory problems that can obstruct proper breathing.

A follow-up study in 1994 by the same Paris researchers involved 12 patients. All patients were receiving neuroleptic drugs and had had clear symptoms of dyskinesia of the mouth, tongue and jaw. The patients were assessed using a standard scale of measurement:

Eight suffered from speech disorders
Eight experienced respiratory difficulties
Five had regular difficulty swallowing

In addition, all but two of the subjects had "intermittent partial obstruction of the glottis due to abnormal adduction [contraction] of the vocal chords." Interestingly, these uncontrolled movements of the glottis (the combination of the vocal folds and the space between the folds) were irregular and the patients were not aware of their occurrence. The researchers concluded, based on their observations that laryngeal dyskinesia should be included as a side effect of antipsychotic drugs.

Dr. Peter Breggin is one psychiatrist concerned with the over-use of neuroleptic drugs, which he describes as some of the most dangerous pharmaceuticals ever developed. He has noticed that certain symptoms of laryngeal dyskinesia often manifest as withdrawal symptoms when a patient ceases taking neuroleptics. In some cases, these withdrawal effects are permanent and includes breathing difficulties that are serious enough to require medical attention.

Dr. Breggin has also noticed "Tourette-like" symptoms that include vocalizations. He notes that while most of the symptoms involve the muscles of the neck and around the face, those fine muscles involved in speech and swallowing are often affected as well.

Free information packet on Tardive Dyskinesia

Name

Address

City, State, Zip

Diagnosis

Prescribed Drug

Phone #

Comments