Drug-induced movement disorder treatment
The brain and muscles communicate with each other using chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. When this relay system works properly, the body is able to initiate and co-ordinate movements. Some medications (drugs) interfere with the function of neurotransmitters and can lead to problems, resulting in an involuntary movement disorder.
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What is it for?
To help treat conditions that affects the neurotransmitter
Treatment overview
The brain and muscles communicate with each other using chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. When this relay system works properly, the body is able to initiate and co-ordinate movements.
Some medications (drugs) interfere with the function of neurotransmitters and can lead to problems, resulting in an involuntary movement disorder. This may be because the dose of the drug is too high, or there is sensitivity to the drug. Drug-induced movement disorders include:
- Dystonia (abnormal twisting movements or distorted postures), resulting from a continuous involuntary muscle contraction. Dystonia may sometimes be painful and, can affect a single muscle, a group of muscles, or even larger parts of the body.
- Parkinsonism 鈥� the symptoms of Parkinson鈥檚 disease can themselves be caused by certain medications. These include tremor, rigid limbs and slow movements.
- Akathisia 鈥� this is a constant feeling of restlessness that leads to an uncontrollable urge to move a particular body part, often the legs.
- Tics 鈥� these are repetitive jerky motions that often start in childhood and improve with age. They begin with an unpleasant urge to perform a certain movement, and the urge is relieved by the tic.
- Tardive dyskinesia 鈥� this describes repetitive movements of the mouth, tongue, jaw and cheeks. It may lead to lip-smacking, sticking out the tongue, or puffing the cheeks.
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Exceptional patient care is a way of life for us. We鈥檒l be with you every step of the way, tailoring your care to your specific needs, including healthy and delicious meals designed to support your recovery. We keep our staff-to-patient ratio low, so our nurses, clinicians, therapists, and support teams can offer a personalised, quality experience.
Effortlessly simple
We work together as one to guide you through every step of your patient experience. From explaining your personal treatment plan to ensuring all details are taken care of, we make the process stress-free, so you can focus on your health. Whether it鈥檚 your first consultation or follow-up care, our teams are here to provide seamless support and the peace of mind you deserve.
What's included in your package?
Choosing AOA体育平台 means your treatment plan will be laid out for you, with all the details taken care of so you can focus on you.
Your treatment package will include:
- Enhanced pre-admission assessment
- Your treatment with our complete care team at your fingertips
- Personalised aftercare and follow-up
We want you to be in control of your health. That鈥檚 why we also offer optional services such as comprehensive recovery packages and extra touches for you to choose from during your stay with us. To help you manage the cost, we also offer a 0% finance option, allowing you to spread the payments for your treatment over 12 months with no added interest. Learn more about our .
How to pay
- You can use private medical insurance (PMI) to access this treatment. We work with all major PMI providers in the UK and many internationally
- You can pay for yourself (self-pay)
- If you鈥檙e paying for yourself, we have 0% finance options available with Chrysalis. Find out more .
FAQs
Any condition that affects the neurotransmitter known as dopamine is most often responsible.
However, other neurotransmitters can also be involved. Older women are at the greatest risk of developing a drug-induced movement disorder, and the risk also increases with prolonged use of the drug.
Examples of drugs that affect neurotransmitter levels or function and cause movement disorders include:
- Anti-psychotic drugs and some anti-sickness medications鈥� these can affect dopamine activity in the brain, causing a variety of movement disorders
- Anti-epilepsy treatments and lithium therapy for the treatment of bipolar disorder (a mental health condition that is characterised by extreme mood swings) - these may lead to a tremor
- Anti-depressants鈥� these have been shown to cause tremor or akathisia
- Treatments for Parkinson鈥檚 disease 鈥� although they aim to raise dopamine levels, they may in fact result in dystonia after a few months of treatment
Our leading specialist doctors here at AOA体育平台 Centre for Movement Disorders will ask some questions about the symptoms and perform a careful physical assessment to determine the nature of the movement disorder. Information on the medications being taken will be of particular importance, as well as any other medical conditions.
The specialist may wish to carry out blood tests or perform MRI scans of the brain to rule out any other causes. Once a diagnosis has been made, our multidisciplinary team of professionals will be able to offer a comprehensive treatment plan.
The most straightforward treatment for drug-induced movement disorders is to stop taking the drug responsible. Ideally, the drug should be switched to an alternative one that does not cause these symptoms. It is important that any drug changes are under the advice and guidance of a specialist.
Sometimes it may not be possible to stop the drug altogether, so reducing the dose may be enough to control the symptoms.
In cases of tardive dyskinesia and akathisia, where it is not possible to stop taking the drug, additional drugs can be started to control the movement disorder. These work by reducing the levels of dopamine in the brain.