Questions for Your Doctor

If you have been diagnosed with tardive dyskinesia, you will most likely have many questions about the disease, the causes of the disorder, its treatment, and much more. The best way to gather information is by asking questions and demanding specific answers from a doctor. If you are not pleased with the feedback you get from your doctor, seek a second opinion. Confronting the disease successfully means knowing as much as you can about it.

Consider asking your doctor some of the following questions:

What causes tardive dyskinesia? - Ask your doctor to explain the most common causes of the disorder.
Why did I develop TD? - Review your medical history, your current medications, and other specifics, and ask your doctor to explain why you are a victim of this disorder.
Can I stop taking the drug that is causing TD? - If you're being treated with an offending drug for a certain medical condition, ask your doctor if there are other options for treatment. If there are, request that he or she halt any treatments using the drug that triggered the disorder.
What are the most common symptoms of the disorder? - Explain your symptoms and find out what others are commonly associated with TD.
Will my symptoms lessen or stop when I stop taking metoclopramide (or another offending drug)? Will they get worse over time? - Get a clear picture of what you might expect in regards to the involuntary movements you are experiencing because of the TD, whether they may increase or decrease, and when the changes in symptoms might occur.
Are there medications to control the symptoms? - Ask for information about the most common treatments for the disorder and the success rate of each. Ask which might be right for you and discuss potential side effects of any treatment drugs.
Are there natural ways of controlling the symptoms? - Consider natural treatments for the disorder, like vitamins or minerals, which have fewer side effects.
Can my TD be cured? - Find out what the chances are of your TD disappearing for good and how you can help make that happen.

Sources:

http://www.bcm.edu/neurology/patient_education/pdcmdc/td.html