Case Report of Management of Severe Tardive Dyskinesia Induced by an Atypical Antipsychotic in a Schizophrenic Patient

Introduction Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a debilitating movement disorder often resulting from the prolonged use of antipsychotic medications, especially high-potency typical (first-generation) antipsychotics. Case presentation This case report presents a 32-year-old male diagnosed with schizophrenia who developed TD after being treated with the atypical antipsychotic Aripiprazole and experienced symptoms four weeks post self-discontinuation. Despite the generally lower risk of extrapyramidal symptoms associated with atypical (second-generation) antipsychotics, the patient experienced significant involuntary facial and jaw movements that adversely affected his quality of life. Traditional management strategies were ineffective; however, by adjusting the previous medications and dosages, including Tetrabenazine, a recently approved medication for TD, the patient showed marked improvement in his symptoms. Conclusion This case highlights the importance of recognizing TD as a potential complication of aripiprazole and underscores the effectiveness of Tetrabenazine as a treatment option for managing this challenging condition.