What
are the symptoms of wearing off?
Wearing off is
very individual and there is no standard time frame for when this may occur or
what symptoms you experience.
In some people motor symptoms such as tremor may be the first sign, whilst for others it might be stiffness
and difficulty initiating movement. However, wearing off symptoms can be much more subtle and may not
be associated with movement at all. Indeed,
many people experience non-motor symptoms, including anxiety, fatigue, change
in mood, difficulty thinking, restlessness, sweating and increased salivation,
during wearing off.
Generally wearing off is said to be present if symptoms tend to re-emerge or worsen two or more
hours after taking levodopa and then improve or disappear when the next dose is
taken. The
range of these symptoms is very broad, so if you notice any changes in your
usual symptom pattern you should discuss them with your doctor in case you are
experiencing wearing off. Your doctor will
then be able to adjust your medication regime to help control symptoms
better.
Symptoms of wearing off: an overview
