Has anyone else developed tardive dyskenesia?

Hi. I developed tardive dyskenesia after taking Abilify for years. It went away for awhile, but now I think it's coming back. I've got the grimacing, tongue movements, lip pursing, etc., all back. If it is coming back I feel so hopeless. My psychiatrist told me about a new drug they've developed to treat it, but it costs between $3,000-$4,000 a month! Who can afford that? I started Abilify back in 2004. My psychiatrist didn't tell me about this risk, and I'm pretty sure there wasn't a black box warning at the time. If only I'd known! I'm also so angry. Angry at the doctor who prescribed it, angry at the drug maker, and angry at big pharmaceutical companies that would put such a dangerous drug on the market in the first place. I want to sue my doctor and the drug company! They should make you sign an informed consent form before allowing you to take this drug. Yes, Abilify helped my mania. It also helped me gain 50 pounds and helped me develop this horrible condition! And I know Abilify isn't the only culprit. I just want some relief! Is there anybody out there who has this and found anything to relieve their symptoms?

i have dystonia and procycladine helped a lot.

Vitamin E helped me with td about 10 years ago. But I was taking way too much. Also I discontinued ap meds for a few years. Good luck.

I'm so sorry you developed TD. I have never had TD, but very briefly had a dystonia. My pdoc lowered the dose of that med (a 1st generation antipsychotic) and it went away.

I think it's terrible that a medication that could help such a horrible affliction has to cost so much. The price is probably superinflated just to grease the pockets of the pharmaceutical company.

I am sorry you are suffering. I agree, there should be a lot more education/informed consent re: meds. Definitely.

I am on low-dose Abilify now. I know the risks (not because a doctor shared that info. with me) and I still choose to take it. I am caught between a rock and a hard place. I need the relief from a deadly depression now and have to be concerned about longer-term side-effects later.

To hold a helpful med hostage for large sums of money seems cruel to me. Very cruel.

I haven't the words to tell you how sorry I am that you are suffering.


WC

Like Wild Coyote, I'm on a low dose of Abilify now (5mg), but the pdoc I had two years ago had me on 30mg for years. I stopped taking Abilify for a month or two not long ago, & my therapist said she didn't notice any lip pursing or other symptoms (at times drool collects at the corners of my mouth, too). Shaking in my pinkie & ring fingers & some numbness in my toes are symptoms that are most likely permanent...In other words, I'm pissed off that I've developed side-effects attributable to a drug that aired "happy time" TV commercials when it first came out (I don't know if anyone remembers those, or not.) Cutting way back, or using it PRN (under close supervision) are the only "cures" I've have hope for. The problem is, it works well for me, & it seems like most every AP has nasty side-effects. Pick your poison, I guess...