Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is most commonly linked to long-term use of dopamine receptor blocking drugs (DRBDs), such as antipsychotics. However, there has been some exploration of whether non-DRBD medications, like antidepressants, can also trigger similar movement disorders. While some case reports suggest a potential link between these drugs and TD-like symptoms, the majority of these cases involve patients with prior or concurrent DRBD exposure, making it difficult to establish a definitive cause.

Reviewing the literature on TD induced by non-DRBDs reveals that most reported cases involve concurrent or prior use of DRBDs, further complicating the causality of TD in these instances. Some reports also fail to exclude other potential causes of dyskinesia, such as primary brain disorders. A small subset of cases suggests that antidepressants, like serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants, may exacerbate or unmask TD that was previously latent due to DRBD exposure. The current consensus leans toward the understanding that non-DRBD medications likely do not directly cause TD but may contribute to its emergence in individuals with a history of DRBD use. Therefore, TD-like syndromes in patients without any DRBD exposure should be considered exceedingly rare, and such cases require thorough evaluation to rule out other explanations.

Reference: D’Abreu A, Friedman JH. Tardive Dyskinesia-like Syndrome Due to Drugs that do not Block Dopamine Receptors: Rare or Non-existent: Literature Review. Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y). 2018;8:570. doi: 10.7916/D8FF58Z9.