My symptoms are now happening sporadically throughout the day—and sometimes at night.
Parkinson’s disease can be inconsistent. The length of time between when your symptoms go away and when they return may vary and become shorter—often multiple times during the day and night.
when oral levodopa is working and your symptoms are managed
when oral levodopa wears off and your symptoms return
when alternating periods of ON and OFF time occur
Motor fluctuations are a result of a change in your body’s response to treatment. Over time, your body’s response to oral medications becomes less predictable, and control of symptoms might not last as long as it once did.
See how many people in the US are diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
When oral medications aren’t enough, the symptoms you experience may disrupt your life and can take a toll on your emotional health. You may feel anxious and want to avoid social situations with friends and family.
During OFF times, symptoms of motor fluctuations may vary and appear like:
What your doctor may say:Resting tremor
What your doctor may say:Postural instability
What your doctor may say:Rigidity, Dystonia
What your doctor may say:Micrographia
What your doctor may say:Masking, Hypomimia
What your doctor may say:Dysphonia, Hypophonia
What your doctor may say:Bradykinesia, Shuffling gait, Akinesia
If your motor fluctuations are getting worse despite taking your oral medication as prescribed, it may be time to speak to your doctor about other options that may be available.
Your doctor may add an MDS to your care team. An MDS is a neurologist with special training in Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. They have extensive knowledge about the latest Parkinson’s treatment, including how to manage motor fluctuation symptoms. They’re also up-to-date on the latest Parkinson’s research. So an MDS can work within your care team to help determine the best treatment plan for you.
Find out how to use the common terms associated with Parkinson’s disease, why it’s important to understand them, and how tracking when you experience symptoms could help improve communication with your doctor.
Download nowAt Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA), we’re proud to help expand the understanding of Parkinson’s worldwide. Here are links to some advocacy organizations devoted to the lives of people with Parkinson’s and their loved ones:
The third-party resources cited above are for the reader's information only. MTPA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content included in these resources.
