A schizophrenic patient staed on haloperidol 2 days back, comes with complaints of toicollis and Orofaciolingual movements. What is the diagnosis?
Now, the options might be A: Acute dystonia, B: Tardive dyskinesia, C: Akathisia, D: Parkinsonism. The correct answer is A. The other options don't fit the timeline. Tardive dyskinesia takes weeks to months. Akathisia is restlessness, not dystonia. Parkinsonism would include rigidity and bradykinesia, not torticollis. The clinical pearl here is to remember the timeline for EPS: acute dystonia is early, akathisia and parkinsonism can come in a few days to weeks, and tardive is after long-term use. Also, anticholinergics like benztropine are used for acute dystonia.
**Core Concept**
This question assesses knowledge of **extrapyramidal side effects (EPS)** of antipsychotics, specifically **acute dystonia**, a common early adverse effect of typical antipsychotics like haloperidol. Dystonia involves sustained muscle contractions, often in the cervical (torticollis) or orofacial regions.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Haloperidol, a high-potency typical antipsychotic, blocks dopamine D2 receptors in the nigrostriatal pathway. This causes **acute dystonia**, which manifests within hours to days of initiation. Torticollis (cervical dystonia) and orofaciolingual movements (e.g., tongue protrusion, grimacing) are hallmark features. The condition is distinct from tardive dyskinesia (chronic, develops after weeks/months) and is managed with anticholinergics (e.g., benztropine) or diphenhydramine.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** Tardive dyskinesia (chronic, irreversible movements) develops after prolonged antipsychotic use, not within 2 days.
**Option B:** Akathisia presents as inner restlessness and an inability to sit still, not dystonic postures.
**Option C:** Parkinsonism (bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor) occurs due to dopamine blockade but has a different clinical presentation.
**Clinical Pearl**
Acute dystonia is an **early EPS** (hours to days) of antipsychotics. Remember the **"3 Ds"**: **Dystonia** (acute),