MOTOR FLUCTUATIONS INFORMATION for
healthcare professionals
Patients with Parkinson's may face new challenges over time.
When motor fluctuationS may become a challenge
In Parkinson's disease, patients may experience severe motor complications like motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. These fluctuations often lead to debilitating periods of immobility or uncontrollable dyskinesias, making even simple tasks challenging. Motor fluctuations can profoundly impact a patient's1:
Daily functioning
Independence
Disease management
WHAT DOES SUBOPTIMAL CONTROL OF MOTOR SYMPTOMS LOOK LIKE?
Patients with Parkinson’s will continue to face new challenges over time as the response to orally delivered levodopa becomes less reliable.
Suboptimal control of motor fluctuations is associated with patients who experience one or more of the following:
- Motor fluctuations daily despite optimized orally delivered medication2,3
- Levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID)4
- Need for multiple doses of rescue medication daily2,5,6
- Continued decline in quality of life as a response to treatment becomes more unpredictable2,4
SPEAKING PARKINSON’S WITH PATIENTS
Mirroring or repeating language your patient uses to describe their symptoms can serve as a subtle appeal for them to elaborate further while also signaling that you are attentively listening.7
Your patient may feel more comfortable sharing what is needed to inform their treatment plan, while allowing you to reaffirm medical language they can use in a supportive, educational setting.
OVER TIME, THE EFFECT OF THE MEDICINE TO CONTROL MOTOR FLUCTUATIONS DIMINISHES
The goal of therapy is to maintain consistent therapeutic levodopa levels to minimize motor fluctuations, reduce the risk of troublesome dyskinesia, and improve quality of life.4
Response to orally delivered levodopa becomes less reliable
- More dopaminergic neurons are destroyed; the ability to store excess dopamine decreases2,8
- Increased neuronal loss leads to more OFF time and motor complications9
- Higher and more frequent levodopa doses may be required, and medication may be poorly absorbed in the GI tract due to delayed gastric emptying2,10
- Therapeutic window of levodopa narrows as response shortens to as little as 2 hours2,11
Help your patients with Parkinson’s regain control of their lives.
CONSIDER THE RIGHT TIME TO PARTNER WITH A MOVEMENT DISORDER SPECIALIST (MDS)
If you are not an MDS, adding one to your patient's care team may become more crucial as they experience motor fluctuations and new treatment options may need to be considered.
REVIEW MORE ABOUT MOTOR FLUCTUATIONS AND HOW TO "SPEAK PARKINSON'S" WITH PATIENTS
Download this practical fact sheet that covers:
- Challenges of controlling motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's
- Ways patients describe their symptoms and issues behind what they say
- Tips on how to communicate with patients about their symptoms
Download now
We are committed to supporting people living with Parkinson’s
At 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.