Dyskinesia is a condition that is signified by movements in the body that are involuntary, abnormal, and uncontrollable. The symptoms in the condition range from very small tics to full body movements. This condition appears one of two ways: as an independent condition that could have been caused by an injury in the brain; or as a result of taking some antipsychotic medication. Alternatively, it may also appear if you have been consuming Levodopa for a longer period of time, a medicine that is used to manage Parkinson’s disease.
Dyskinesia may be treated with medicines, surgery, or through any one of the ways mentioned below.
Request your doctor to change the Levodopa dose
Levodopa is a medication that is used to increase the amount of dopamine in the brain, which is present in lesser or no quantities when one has Parkinson’s. The medication is used to prevent jerk and stiffness in the movements. When the effect of the medication reduces the dopamine levels drop. This fluctuation may be one of the prime causes of dyskinesia. In this case, you may consult with your doctor and ask for a change in the dosage.
Take Amantadine as prescribed by your doctor
As dyskinesia is a by-product of Parkinson’s, Amantadine may be administered to you by your doctor. It helps in controlling shakiness and stiffness in the body movements. It is available in two types of medicines and both are taken in an Extended Release (ER) form:
- Gocovari
The prescribed dosage could be one capsule per night. - Osmolex
This must be consumed once a day every morning.
You may want to consult your doctor about the dosage as the consumption of these medicines may cause side effects like nausea, dizziness, and troubled sleep.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
During DBS, a small device like a pacemaker is implanted inside your brain. The device sends signals to various parts of the brain that are responsible for controlling movements. The device is also efficient in blocking those impulses that are responsible for dyskinesia. It is usually seen that with DBS, the dosage of Levodopa is reduced.
Adjust your diet
Since no particular diet is known to treat dyskinesia, a small tweak in the existing diet may be effective in making changes to the way your body reacts with Levodopa. Since Levodopa in itself is a building block of protein, when it is combined with food items that are rich in protein, your body may not be able to absorb the benefits of other medications. You may, therefore, have to avoid food items that are significantly rich in protein while you are taking medication for dyskinesia.
Moreover, if the medications for dyskinesia give you nausea or dizziness, you may take low protein bars or a snack that is based on carbohydrate.
Lower your stress levels
If you have dyskinesia and take a lot of stress, the condition may further worsen. Managing your stress is extremely important to counter the effects of dyskinesia. Here are some of the most common ways that you may use as stress busters:
- Deep breathing
- Meditation for increasing focus and lowering stress levels present
- Music lessons for improving the quality of life among people dealing with dyskinesia and Parkinson’s.
