Tardive Dyskinesia Medication - Adrenergic Antagonists

There is no cure for tardive dyskinesia and little research has been done. Beyond removing a patient from the medication or cutting the dose to the bare minimum, any treatment for managing the condition must be tailored for each individual.

Several management techniques involving the use of everything from herbs and vitamin supplements to electro-stimulation of the brain have been tried with varying degrees of success. One of these techniques employs a class of drugs known as adrenergic antagonists. In order to understand adrenergic antagonists (an antagonist inhibits a process, while an agonist stimulates it), it is helpful to review the nature and function of adrenergics in general.

Artificial Adrenaline

Adrenergics are drugs that mimic the action of adrenaline. An andregenic antagonist is a drug that essentially inhibits the production and function of adrenalin in much the same way that anti-psychotic (neuroleptic) drugs block dopamine receptors.

"Beta blockers," used primarily for anxiety, are officially approved for use as a treatment for congestive heart failure. They work essentially by reducing demands on the heart muscle. There is another class of adrenergic antagonists known as alpha-blockers, which are used to treat high blood pressure as well as hardening of the skin called scleroderma. In general, adrenergic antagonists are used to reduce tension and anxiety and promote relaxation.

Adrenergic Antagonists and Tardive Dyskinesia

Although several Web sites and print sources suggest that adrenergic antagonists may be helpful in treating tardive dyskinesia, there has only been a small amount of research done on this issue. Studies indicate that some patients do suffer from what is known as noradrenergic hyperactivity (an over-active adrenal gland), and they may benefit from certain types of adrenergic antagonists – primarily clonidine (an alpha-blocker used today primarily for sleep disorders and symptoms of ADHD) and proprandol (a blood pressure medication).

Side Effects

Like many drugs, adrenergic antagonists have undesirable side effects as well. These include abnormally low heart rate (accompanied by fatigue, dizziness, weakness and other symptoms), low blood pressure, visual impairment, hallucinations, sleep disorders, sexual dysfunction and depression. If used in conjunction with diuretics, it can also increase the risk of a patient developing Type-II diabetes.

If such adrenergic antagonists are used for treating symptoms associated with tardive dyskinesia, it should only be under the close supervision of the primary care physician and only if other methods of managing the disorder have proven ineffective.