Reserpine and alpha-methyldopa in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia

Thirty inpatients with evidence of tardive dyskinesia secondary to antipsychotic medications participated in this double-blind, controlled, randomized study comparing reserpine, α-methyldopa and placebo. Reserpine at doses of 0.75–1.5 mg daily, or α-methyldopa at doses of 750–1,500 mg daily, produced a statistically significant improvement in tardive dyskinesia symptomatology compared to the results obtained with placebo.