Dyskinesia occurs when one or more parts of the body make involuntary movements. It’s often seen in people with Parkinson’s disease and can be a side effect of levodopa treatment.

“Dyskinesia” is a broad term used to describe involuntary movements that occur when your body moves in ways you cannot control.

Dyskinesia can affect just one part of the body, such as the head or an arm, or the entire body. Symptoms range from mild to severe and could differ in frequency.

There are many types of dyskinesia, each with its own unique causes.

However, the term “dyskinesia” is often used specifically to refer to levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID). LID is a form of dyskinesia sometimes seen in people with Parkinson’s disease, typically as a side effect of long-term levodopa treatment.

Continue reading to learn more about the symptoms, causes, and treatment of dyskinesia.

There are many different types of dyskinesia, which vary based on the underlying cause:

Parkinson’s disease dyskinesia

The most common type of dyskinesia is levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID), which occurs as a side effect of taking the medication levodopa to manage Parkinson’s disease.

Levodopa acts like dopamine, but it can sometimes create an environment where there’s too much or too little dopamine in the brain. This can cause uncontrollable movements.

LID is also referred to as Parkinson’s disease dyskinesia or simply dyskinesia. There are three types of LID:

  • Peak dose dyskinesia: Symptoms develop when the concentration of levodopa in your blood is highest, most commonly 1 to 2 hours after you take it.
  • Diphasic dyskinesia: Symptoms occur as your medication dose is building up in your system, and when your medication levels are falling prior to your next dose.
  • Off-period dystonia: Symptoms occur early in the morning, when there’s little or no medication in your system. This is known as the “off period.”

Tardive dyskinesia (TD)

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) typically develops as a side effect of taking neuroleptic drugs, which are typically used to manage psychiatric and neurological conditions. It’s also common with anti-nausea medications.

TD usually goes away once you stop taking that specific medication, but it can sometimes last for many years.

Chorea

Chorea is a type of dyskinesia characterized by sudden, irregular movements of the limbs, head, and face.

It usually occurs on one side of the body at a time, but it may switch randomly between both sides. It can also occur as part of TD.

Primary chorea is linked with a genetic condition, such as Huntington’s disease. Secondary chorea is caused by a wide range of conditions, some of which include:

  • infections, such as Lyme disease, HIV, and syphilis
  • health conditions, such as rheumatic fever, hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, and hypomagnesemia
  • autoimmune diseases, such as lupus
  • brain conditions, such as stroke or brain cancer
  • medication side effects, such as those from oral contraceptives, antihistamines, and illegal drugs
  • excessive exposure to toxins, such as alcohol, mercury, and carbon monoxide

There’s also a specific type of chorea associated with pregnancy, called chorea gravidarum.

When chorea is very severe, it’s known as ballism. Athetosis, which typically affects the hands and feet, is a slower form of chorea.

Tremors

Tremors are rhythmic, involuntary muscle contractions. Some common types of tremors include:

  • Resting or static: These tremors occur if you’re not actively using the body part affected by the tremor.
  • Kinetic tremors: These occur when you attempt to move a limb, usually an arm or hand.
  • Postural tremors: These occur when trying to maintain a position against gravity, such as when holding your arms outstretched.

Like chorea, tremors have several causes. Some of these include:

  • taking certain medications, such as asthma drugs, corticosteroids, and chemotherapy
  • being exposed to toxins, such as heavy metals and pesticides
  • having a health condition, such as diabetes, thyroid disorder, kidney failure, or liver failure
  • being stressed, tired, or anxious
  • having a family member with tremors

Myoclonus

Myoclonus refers to sudden, often repetitive, involuntary muscle spasms and jerks. A disruption of the central nervous system or a nerve injury usually triggers it.

There are many causes of myoclonus, such as:

  • epileptic seizure
  • cardiac arrest
  • medications
  • genetics

Dystonia

Dystonia refers to involuntary muscle contractions that may cause irregular, uncomfortable, and sometimes painful postures, twisting movements, and tremors.

Dystonia is a condition that may be caused by irregularities in the central nervous system of the brain, affecting motor functions and movement.

Symptoms of dyskinesia vary from person to person and may depend on the specific type.

They can be very mild with a slight movement of the head, arm, or leg. They can also be severe and include multiple parts of the body moving involuntarily.

Some symptoms of dyskinesia may include:

  • fidgeting
  • wriggling
  • swaying
  • twisting
  • contorting
  • head bobbing
  • twitching
  • restlessness

Treatment for dyskinesia will depend on the type, underlying cause, and severity of your symptoms.

If your symptoms are related to taking specific medications, a doctor may recommend modifying the dosage or taking an alternative drug.

Similarly, managing underlying conditions that may be causing dyskinesia, such as infections, diabetes, or hypothyroidism, is crucial for managing symptoms.

When dyskinesia is a direct result of taking levodopa, treatment options may include:

  • adjusting the dose of your levodopa to avoid large fluctuations in the amount of dopamine in your system
  • taking levodopa in a continuous infusion or an extended-release formulation
  • taking amantadine extended-release (Gocovri)
  • taking Duodopa, a gel medication administered through an intestinal pump
  • undergoing deep brain stimulation

Many therapies are currently in development, but the challenge for researchers around dyskinesia caused by Parkinson’s medication is that some medications may help people who experience dyskinesia symptoms when their levodopa is the most active in their system.

Other medications may help alleviate symptoms that occur when the medication is almost fully absorbed by the body.

Therefore, it’s currently unlikely to find a one-size-fits-all therapy.

Treatments for other causes

Other types of dyskinesia may have different treatments depending on the underlying cause.

For instance, three medications have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of dyskinesia associated with Huntington’s disease. These include:

For dystonia, a doctor may prescribe other types of medications or Botox injections.

Other possible categories of medications and treatments include:

  • steroids
  • anticonvulsants
  • antibiotics
  • plasmapheresis
  • surgery

As with any treatment, discuss all side effects with a doctor before deciding on the best treatment for you.

Although tremor is a type of dyskinesia, the term “dyskinesia” usually refers to levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) specifically. LID is a drug side effect.

Tremors can also develop in Parkinson’s disease, but they’re caused by the disease itself and not a medication.

Dyskinesia and tremors both cause involuntary movements, but their symptoms present in varying ways.

Whether or not dyskinesia can go away depends on the cause and available treatments.

When a medication is causing it, stopping the drug can help it go away. Other causes require different treatment.

Therefore, it’s important to talk with your doctor about the various treatment options to help manage dyskinesia if it develops during your treatment.

No, dyskinesia is a symptom that can occur in people with Parkinson’s disease who are taking a medication called levodopa, but the two are not the same. Parkinson’s disease is a chronic condition.

“Dyskinesia” is a blanket term used to describe involuntary, uncontrollable movements. It’s routinely seen in people with Parkinson’s disease who have been taking the medication levodopa for a long period.

It can also develop in people taking antipsychotic medications, but in this instance, it’s typically referred to as tardive dyskinesia.

Other types of dyskinesia have different treatments, and treatment decisions will vary from person to person. It’s important to work with a healthcare professional who can help create or modify a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs.