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عدد المساهمات : 9481
تاريخ التسجيل : 06/08/2009
 | موضوع: On/Off” Motor Fluctuation in Parkinson’s Disease"  الإثنين يناير 14, 2013 12:38 pm | |
| What does ‘On/Off’ mean?
The “On/Off” Phenomenon in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is related to fluctuating benefit of the medications used to treat PD.
Being “On” describes the time when the Person with Parkinson’s (PwP) feels that their medication is beneficial and that their
symptoms are well controlled.
Being “Off” describes the time when the PwP feels that their medication is not working as well as usual, and some of their symptoms may have returned (either motor: stiffness, slowness or tremor; or non-motor: anxiety, nausea, depression).
The ‘On/Off’ phenomenon can best be described as a quick, unpredictable reappearance of PD symptoms. Likewise, switching from “Off” to “On” can occur just as suddenly. The speed of this shift can be so dramatic that some people have likened this effect to a light switch being turned on and off.
“On/Off” fluctuations are different from the phenomenon known as “Freezing”, which can also affect people who have had Parkinson’s for some time. “Freezing” is the word used to describe the experience of stopping suddenly while walking or when trying to initiating walking, and people feel as though their feet are ‘frozen’ or stuck to the ground. While “Freezing” episodes tend to last only a few seconds, an “Off” period can continue for minutes, or even hours.
“On/Off” effects do not just affect a person’s mobility. They are often accompanied by changes in other symptoms, such as an increase in anxiety, visual disturbances, sweating or sometimes, pain in the limbs. Some people can find ‘On/Off’ fluctuations very distressing, especially as they can happen suddenly and unexpectedly. Other people are able to judge in advance when an episode is likely to occur.
How is the “On/Off” Phenomenon Treated?
Many of the strategies that can be used to treat “Wearing-off” effects can also be tried when someone is experiencing “On/Off” fluctuations, such as ensuring that you are taking your medication correctly, taking them with plenty of fluid and avoiding food at tablet time.
If your “On/Off” fluctuations are very bothersome, your doctor or PDNS may suggest a change in medication timing, dosage or type. Your doctor may advise you to try an enzyme inhibitor, or a long acting dopamine agonist to give smoother control of your symptoms, a concept devised to achieve a continuous delivery of dopamine to the brain.
This continuous delivery of dopamine could also be achieved by the use of Apomorphine or Duodopa.
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admin
Admin
عدد المساهمات : 9481
تاريخ التسجيل : 06/08/2009
| | موضوع: رد: On/Off” Motor Fluctuation in Parkinson’s Disease" الإثنين يناير 14, 2013 12:54 pm | |
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