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Mary and Camilla, Sorry to hear about Peter's problems. I doubt that Camilla's husband is dealing with Tardive Dyskinesia. While the symptoms are similar the cause of tardive dyskinesia (TD) is from long-term antipsychotic drug use. What occurs is because these drugs block dopamine transmission (unfortunately in the basal ganglia as well as in the areas of the brain thought to control hallucinations) the receptor sites in the striatum become supersensitive over time. Then any med reduction or just time triggers the abnormal movements. I have never heard of it being diagnosed in PWP. But we have such an obvious cause for our dyskinesia I don't think it would be differentiable. Also PWP do not tolerate most neuroleptics anyway. Charlie PS. My wife will soon be on the internet and will likely be joining you on your caregivers list. Mary Ulmer wrote: > > Camillia > So sorry about the rough times. Sounds like he was developing a > tardive > dyskinesia- My medical dictionary (Tabers) says the > following---Condition of > slow rhytmical, automatic sterotyped movements, either generalized or > in > single muscle groups. These occur as an undesired effect of therapy > with > certain psychotropic drugs, esp. the phenothiazines. Another name for > this > is extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS). Some people have a rhymic movement > of > their tongue (in and out or back and forth) I understand if this is > allowed > over a period of time, the movements become irreversable. Best advice > would > come from his neuro. I understand Polypharmacy is a contributing > cause as > well as a dopamine/acetyloline balance is disturbed. > Forgive me for going on and on--bet your best resource besides his > neuro is > our good Dr. Mayer (sp?) > Mary CG for Mel 76/11 HANG IN THERE -- ********************************************************** CHARLES T. MEYER, M.D. MADISON, WISCONSIN **********************************************************