Medicines and movement side effects
Also called drug-induced movement disorders
Key points about medicines and movement side effects
- Some medicines can cause changes in your movement. This is sometimes called movement disorder.
- If you are taking a medicine and you're worried about changes to your movements, don't stop taking your medicine suddenly. Instead discuss this with your healthcare provider.
-
Movement side effects are sometimes called extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS).
Movement side effects are body movements that can be hard to control caused by medicines. They include muscle spasms and trouble sitting still. Movement side effects are sometimes called extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS).
Examples of movement side effects include:
- Moving around a lot or not being able to sit still. This includes feeling restless – you may have the urge to tap your fingers, fidget or jiggle your legs.
- Severe muscle spasms in your face, neck, back, arms or legs.
- Shaking or tremors in your hands, arms, or legs that are hard to stop.
- Walking slowly or dragging your feet as you walk.
The following are examples of medicines known to affect movement. It's important to note that not all people get movement side effects with these medicines.
| Movement side effect | Examples of medicines known to cause this side effect |
| Feeling of being restless |
|
| Tremor |
|
| Dystonia is uncontrolled movement of your body, caused by muscle cramps or spasms. It can occur in the head and neck causing twisting, or uncontrolled blinking |
|
| Serotonin syndrome (build-up of serotonin in the body, often due to high doses, or if more than 1 medicine causing serotonin syndrome is used) |
|
Note: This is not a complete list. If you're not sure if the medicine you are taking can cause changes in movement, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Alcohol and recreational drugs
Recreational drugs such as alcohol, narcotics, stimulants and hallucinogens also affect movement. Drinking alcohol or using recreational drugs while taking some medicines can make movement side effects worse.
If you are taking a medicine and are worried about changes to your movements, don't stop taking your medicine suddenly. Instead discuss this with your healthcare provider. Sometimes there might be a different dose or a different medicine that you can take that has less effect on your movements, but your current medicines may need to be stopped or reduced slowly.
Keep in mind that people close to you may notice a change in your movements before you see it in yourself. If other people say they’ve noticed something, it’s probably a good idea to ask for help.
Treatment depends on how much you need the medicine that causes the side effects. If side effects are causing big problems for you, your doctor may lower your dose or stop the medicine. Otherwise your doctor may switch you to a different medicine. There are also medicines that can treat your movement disorder or reduce your symptoms.
Learning about movement disorders from antipsychotic medicine(external link) MyHealth, Alberta, Canada
Resources
5 questions to ask about your medications(external link) Health Quality and Safety Commission, NZ, 2019 English(external link), te reo Māori(external link)
References
- Drug-induced movement disorders(external link) Australian Prescriber, 2019
Brochures
Medicines and side effects
Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ, 2024
Health Quality and Safety Commission, NZ, 2019 English, te reo Māori
Free helplines
Credits: Sandra Ponen, Pharmacist, Healthify He Puna Waiora. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.
Reviewed by: Angela Lambie, Pharmacist, Auckland
Last reviewed:
Page last updated:
