Frustration with physical side effects
I have bipolar disorder. I was diagnosed at 15 so I've been under treatment for 16 years now. I've always had to be on an anti psychotic. For psychosis and as a mood stabilizer. I take plenty of meds. Well I've been aware that traditive dyskinesia is a warning on all anti psychotics. A neuro muscular disorder. I've always feared it. Now I'm on Stelazine which is an old generation anti psychotic. So it has a high chance of side effects. It's an amazing drug though. But the TD symptoms set in several months ago. Then they stop. Then in an episode they come back. So they don't think it is TD but definitely an anti psychotic side effect. I am so tired of these involuntary movements. Right now its my fingers constantly flexing. It leads to horrible soreness. At really bad times their are facial twitches especially around the mouth. And my tongue sticking in and out. But I can't stop the Stelazine without bad consequences. My psychiatrist put me on Ingrezza. One of the two FDA approved drugs for TD. Even though so far we just believe it to be TD-like symptoms. Due to that Medicare denied coverage 3 times before they improved it. And thankfully I've hit my premium for the year on medication copays because it would have a higher one than usual. This Ingrezza is a bit sedating which leads to bad dreams. Then to be told it takes 4-6 weeks to work. I have to go to a specialty pharmacy to get it. I'm just so frustrated that my body is doing something uncomfortable and I have no control in it. It made me feel better to hear an actual case of TD is rare despite all the immediate warnings. Let's just hope it's just not TD beginning to form. I haven't dealt with medication side effects this bad since high school.
@MindGazer91
Hi MindGazer91, it's surely difficult to deal with those symptoms, I really hope it's transitory and that it won't lead to something more serious. 💙