If you have Parkinson’s, you are likely familiar with tremors and stiffness in the limbs. There may be other types of movements that you may suffer from like fidgeting, bobbing, and swaying, which is known as dyskinesia.
Dyskinesia is an effect of long-term use of the medication Levodopa for Parkinson’s. It happens if you have been taking this medicine for many years and in high doses, though it may not happen to all the people who take this medication. The uncontrollable movements can interrupt daily life. Over 80% of the people show signs of this after taking Levodopa for five years or more.
There are other medications or treatments that can be used to treat dyskinesia, including the following:
1. Change of medication dose
Consult the doctor who treats your Parkinson’s, if you have dyskinesia. It may require just a small change in your medication intake if you have Parkinson’s but you can take a new medication to relieve the symptoms of dyskinesia. This can be included in the lifestyle tips for dyskinesia.
A simple change for medication that you take may also make a difference. Dopamine helps your limbs move smoothly. Levodopa increases dopamine in the brain to prevent jerky movement and stiffness. As soon as you take the medicine it increases the level of dopamine in the brain, the up and down of this medication causes dyskinesia.
You can get the doctor to fine-tune your medication intake. The lower intake will reduce dyskinesia symptoms but it will be high enough to control the symptoms of Parkinson’s. The doctor may add new medication to the treatment.
2. Extended-release Levodopa
You can also try to get the doctor to start on an extended-release of Levodopa. This medicine is released slowly into the blood to keep the dopamine level steady. Dyskinesia is also treated with Amantadine and is used by people who have Parkinson’s. It eases the stiffness and shakiness in their limbs. It is known to cause trouble in sleeping, nausea, and dizziness. This medicine is also found in two other forms:
- Gocovri is also an extended-release medication taken at night.
- Osmolex ER is an extended-release medication, which is taken once a day in the morning.
3. If medication does not work
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) which is used as an alternative treatment for those having Parkinson’s. This also helps to prevent dyskinesia. In this method, the doctor leaves a small pacemaker in your brain to send electrical signals to the brain, which control movements. DBS blocks the abnormal nerve impulse, which causes Parkinson’s and dyskinesia. DBS means taking fewer medicines and taking less Levodopa.
The surgery can cause side effects like sleepiness, infection in the brain, bleeding in the brain or problems with the implant. You can try another option of infusing medication into the bloodstream with the help of a battery-powered pump; the medication can be Levodopa /carbidopa intestinal gel and/or continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion. Your doctor can choose the best treatment that is good for you. Over two-thirds of those suffering from Parkinson’s find dyskinesia as a major problem that affects their lives. Some essential lifestyle tips for dyskinesia can help ease the symptoms.