Bipolar Illness and Tardive Dyskinesia
I take an antianxiety med called Perphenazine. I’ve taken it for years. It works wonders, but the only problem with it is that one of its negative side effects is tardive dyskinesia. According to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, tardive dyskinesia is:
“...one of the muscular side effects of antipsychotic drugs, especially the older generation like haloperidol. TD does not occur until after many months or years of taking antipsychotic drugs, unlike akathisia (restlessness), dystonia (sudden and painful muscle stiffness) and Parkinsonism (tremors and slowing down of all body muscles), which can occur within hours to days of taking an antipsychotic drug. TD is primarily characterized by random movements in the tongue, lips or jaw as well as facial grimacing, movements of arms, legs, fingers and toes, or even swaying movements of the trunk or hips. TD can be quite embarrassing to the affected patient when in public. The movements disappear during sleep. They can be mild, moderate or severe.”
It’s not like I want to develop facial or body tics, but Perphenazine works so well for me that I’m willing to take the risks of developing these problems.
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I have TD in my left hand (my dominant hand). If I notice it, I can usually shift hand position and it goes away, but papers shake when I hold them in that hand, so I shift to my right hand. Still, if this is the major side effect of effective meds, it's worth it.
My TD affects my right arm and hand. When I hold it still, it begins to shake on its own. As a pastor, this makes it very difficult to hold notes or a bible in front of the congregation. I have found that if I move my arm very slightly, instead of keeping it still, the shaking is greatly diminished.
I am currently on Lithium, Welbutrin, Effexor, Adderal and Lamictal. I have been on many drugs since my diagnosis in 1994, so I am not sure when it started.
Also, I have not told any one in my congregation about my BP. This is common practice, considering over 60% of the pastors in my state have purchased anti-depression meds last year. People aren't at that total acceptance stage that they should be. Many see my periodic odd behavior as, well, me being odd.