Melissa Cloyd, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP, BCGP, DPLA

Panelists discuss how pharmacists, through frequent patient contact and vigilant observation, are uniquely positioned to identify early signs of tardive dyskinesia, conduct AIMS assessments, monitor treatment efficacy, foster patient trust, and provide crucial education to support timely intervention and improve long-term management outcomes.

Panelists discuss how pharmacists play a vital role in managing tardive dyskinesia by conducting regular AIMS assessments, supporting medication adherence and tolerability, collaborating with health care teams, and integrating standardized monitoring into clinical workflows to enable early detection and optimize patient outcomes across care settings.

Panelists discuss how the patient journey with tardive dyskinesia involves evolving awareness and management of symptoms alongside underlying psychiatric conditions, highlighting the distinct needs of younger vs older patients and the essential role of pharmacists in supporting individualized, function-focused care throughout the lifespan.

Panelists discuss how extended-release VMAT2 inhibitor formulations improve adherence and tolerability through once-daily dosing and easier administration options, while emphasizing the importance of tailoring treatment to patient needs and the promise of emerging therapies in the pipeline.

Panelists discuss how initiating VMAT2 inhibitors for tardive dyskinesia requires careful consideration of factors like cost, patient tolerance, organ function, and drug interactions. They emphasize gradual dosing and shared decision-making to balance symptom control with adverse effect management in a personalized treatment approach.

Panelists discuss how personalizing tardive dyskinesia treatment involves a patient-centered approach that balances symptom impact, medication optimization, and comorbid psychiatric management—utilizing VMAT2 inhibitors alongside careful monitoring and collaboration among clinicians and pharmacists to tailor dosing and improve quality of life.

Panelists discuss how the long-term management of movement disorders like tardive dyskinesia, Parkinson disease, and Huntington disease requires individualized, patient-centered care that adapts to changing health and tolerance over time, aiming to maintain function and quality of life despite differing disease trajectories and treatment challenges.

Panelists discuss how open-label extension studies of VMAT2 inhibitors demonstrate sustained efficacy, tolerability, and patient retention in long-term treatment of tardive dyskinesia—including in older adults—highlighting their potential to improve quality of life despite manageable adverse effects.

Panelists discuss how the use of both clinician- and patient-reported scales—such as the Impact TD scale, TDIS, and Impact TD Pro—enhances understanding of tardive dyskinesia’s true impact on daily functioning and quality of life, emphasizing the importance of incorporating patient perspectives to guide early, personalized treatment strategies that improve physical symptoms and overall well-being.

Panelists discuss how tardive dyskinesia in older adults often goes unrecognized due to symptom overlap with normal aging, underscoring the importance of early screening, timely intervention with evidence-based treatments like VMAT2 inhibitors, and a multidisciplinary approach to preserve function, independence, and mental well-being.

Panelists discuss how the progression of undiagnosed or untreated tardive dyskinesia in older adults can severely compromise independence and quality of life, emphasizing the need for early recognition, risk factor management, and a multidisciplinary approach—including pharmacists—to ensure timely, individualized, and balanced treatment.

Panelists discuss how enhancing the management of tardive dyskinesia in older patients involves recognizing subtle clinical signs, addressing mental health stigma, and leveraging the pivotal role of pharmacists in early detection, patient education, and coordinated, compassionate care.