The authors conducted an extensive pharmacological analysis of a patient
severely affected by tardive dyskinesia. No drug treatment gave lasting
clinical improvement. Several agents recently recommended for this
condition, dimethyl aminoethanol, clozapine, and thioridazine, failed to
modify the dyskinesia. Reserpine caused a worsening of the symptoms. A
paradoxical and unexpected improvement was observed with apomorphine
injections and with low-dosage oral L-dopa. These two drugs may have acted
by stimulating presynaptic inhibitory dopamine receptors.Abstract Teaser