Is Sleep Apnea the Missing Link in Escalating Tardive Dyskinesia? | ||
| ARCADEs of MEDICINE | ||
| Article 16, Volume 3, Issue 2, October 2025, Pages 141-143 PDF (255.78 K) | ||
| Document Type: Case Reports | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/arcmed.2025.393006.1139 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Mohamed Eltohamy* 1; Tabitha Pollard2 | ||
| 1psychiatry department, AFCM | ||
| 2Saint Joseph Health System Behavioral Health | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) is a potentially irreversible movement disorder that has been documented to occur from extended exposure to antipsychotic medications (1). Sleep Apnea is a condition of disordered breathing leading to repeated sleep interruptions. This potentially life-threatening condition has been associated with other comorbidities including cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes (2). Current literature linking sleep apnea to an increased risk of developing tardive dyskinesia is lacking. This article will review three case studies that bring awareness to a potential link between sleep apnea and the development of TD in patients treated with antipsychotic medications. It will also discuss the importance of screening for and treating sleep apnea in behavioral health patients. Also The cases demonstrates a clear temporal association between untreated severe OSA and worsening of TD symptoms, with significant improvement achieved through OSA treatment. It strongly suggests that OSA can be a potent exacerbating factor for TD. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for OSA in TD patients, especially those reporting symptom fluctuation worse in the mornings or refractory to standard interventions. Systematic screening for and treatment of OSA should be incorporated into the comprehensive care plan for individuals with TD | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Tardive Dyskinesia; Sleep Apnea; Antipsychotic adverse reaction; Pharmacogenomics | ||
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