Drug-Induced Dyskinesias

Parkinsonism symptoms caused by antipsychotic agents are usually reversible by lowering drug dosage, changing the therapy to a drug that is less toxic to extrapyramidal function, or treating with a muscarinic blocker. In acute dystonias, parenteral administration of benztropine or diphenhydramine is helpful. Levodopa and bromocriptine are not useful because dopamine receptors are blocked by the antipsychotic drugs. Tardive dyskinesias that develop from therapy with older antipsychotic drugs are possibly a form of denervation supersensitivity. They are not readily reversed; no specific drug therapy is available.helpful. Levodopa and bromocriptine are not useful because dopamine receptors are blocked by the antipsychotic drugs. Tardive dyskinesias that develop from therapy with older antipsychotic drugs are possibly a form of denervation supersensitivity. They are not readily reversed; no specific drug therapy is available.