Extrapyramidal Symptoms - Conditions

Conditions

• Acute dystonic reactions: muscular spasms of neck – torticollis, eyes – oculogyric crisis, tongue, or jaw; more frequent in children
• Akathisia: A feeling of motor restlessness
• Pseudoparkinsonism: drug-induced parkinsonism (cogwheel rigidity, bradykinesia/akinesia, resting tremor, and postural instability; more frequent in adults and the elderly). Although Parkinson's disease is primarily a disease of the nigrostriatal pathway and not the extrapyramidal system, loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra leads to dysregulation of the extrapyramidal system. Since this system regulates posture and skeletal muscle tone, a result is the characteristic bradykinesia of Parkinson's.
• Tardive dyskinesia: involuntary asymmetrical movements of the muscles, this is a long term chronic condition associated with long term use of antipsychotics.