Treatment methods for Parkinson’s related dyskinesia

Parkinson’s disease can cause both physical and non-motor symptoms. These may include rigidity, tremor, memory problems, stiffness, and anxiety. However, despite the advances in the field of medications, the medicinal drugs used to manage Parkinson’s often cause side effects. People often confuse between dyskinesia and Parkinson’s. While Parkinson’s is a disease, dyskinesia is the side effect of the medicines used to treat Parkinson’s. Dyskinesia is different from Parkinson’s and it causes quick movements that can affect the upper half of the body, arms, and legs.

Treatment methods for Parkinson’s related dyskinesia
Although it does not affect everybody, dyskinesia can interrupt the daily routine of the person suffering from it. However, fortunately, there are several dyskinesia treatment options available that can help ease its symptoms.

Parkinson’s dyskinesia treatment involves:

  • A change in medication for Parkinson’s disease
  • A new medicine to reduce the quick movements

You can even consider choosing one of the following tips for dyskinesia treatment.

  • Visit an experienced and reputed Parkinson’s specialist who will help resolve the issue over a period of time. You may have to visit your doctor often.
  • Try and reduce the intake of Levodopa medication which is one of the biggest causes of dyskinesia. You can consider taking small doses of the medication more frequently. However, do consult your doctor before taking this step as stopping Levodopa (Sinemet) completely can be dangerous.
  • Avoid taking medicinal drugs such as Entacapone (Comtan). It is believed to worsen the effects of dyskinesia.
  • In severe and disabling cases of dyskinesia, your doctor may eliminate MAO-B, Stalevo or Comtan drugs and switch to an only  Sinemet  regime. A low dose of  Sinemet  may be prescribed to help patients get relief from dyskinesia. The doctor may recommend a low dose of Sinemet more frequently.
  • Although not a viable strategy, patients with severe dyskinesia may be asked to switch to liquid Sinemet.
  • For some sufferers, Amantadine may be included in the regimen to help suppress dyskinesia.
  • Deep brain stimulation (DBS) may be recommended. DBS involves a surgery and may be recommended to patients having:

-Parkinson’s disease for at least 4 years
-Dyskinesia
-Resistance to medication

DBS not only helps treat Parkinson’s symptoms but also prevents dyskinesia. It also helps ease stiffness, walking problems and tremors.

Continuous infusion of medicine into the patient’s body through a battery powered pump is another option. There are two types of solutions – LCIG (Levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel) and CSAI ( Continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion).

It is recommended that you understand the pros and cons of each of the dyskinesia treatment from a specialist doctor. He/she will help you select a treatment that has lesser side effects and also works best for you.

Disclaimer:
The content of the articles discussing symptoms, treatments, health conditions, and side effects is solely intended for informational purposes. It is imperative that readers do not interpret the information provided on the website as professional advice. Readers are requested to use their discretion and refrain from treating the suggestions or opinions provided by the writers and editors as medical advice. It is important to seek the help of licensed and expert healthcare professionals when necessary.
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