title: Clinical spectrum of levodopa-induced complications.
abstract: The first years of Parkinson disease (PD) treatment are marked by good and sustained responses to dopaminergic therapy. With disease progression and longer exposure to levodopa (l-dopa), patients develop a range of l-dopa-induced complications that include motor and non-motor symptoms. Motor complications include motor fluctuations, characterized by periods of reduced benefit from the medication, and l-dopa-induced dyskinesia, characterized by emergence of hyperkinetic involuntary movements. Dyskinesia can occur at peak effect of l-dopa, at the beginning and end of dose, or between doses. These motor complications are often associated with fluctuations in non-motor symptoms, particularly fluctuations in neuropsychiatric, autonomic, and sensory symptoms. Recognizing such complications and understanding their relationship with the timing of l-dopa doses is essential for adequate diagnosis and management. Society.
authors.affiliation: Movement Disorder Centre, Edmond J Safra Program in Parkinson Research, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Camila Catherine
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Aquino
authors.forename: Susan H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Fox
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa