Dyskinesia is a condition that leads to uncontrolled and involuntary muscle movements. The disease makes it difficult to perform most everyday activities in many cases. The condition can be mild to severe, affecting either one part of the entire body. It can begin with manageable tremors but often develops into a more serious condition. Dyskinesias have different types, leading to a variety of symptoms. Based on the form, dyskinesias are treated differently, too.

The most common types are:

• Athetosis
• Chorea
• Parkinson’s dyskinesia
• Tardive
• Myoclonus dyskinesias

Causes
The most common cause of dyskinesias is the use of certain medications. They can also occur due to changes in brain structure. However, the disease can sometimes arise from unknown causes, too.

Medication
Levodopa is the primary medicine that can lead to dyskinesias when used in the long term. However, levodopa is the most preferred medicine for Parkinson’s disease treatment. Hence, it is unavoidable in most cases. Unfortunately, research shows that around 50% of levodopa users can develop dyskinesia within five years.

The function of levodopa is to restore dopamine levels in the brain temporarily when Parkinson’s disease leads to the loss of brain cells. However, the patients need to take this medicine multiple times every day, resulting in unsteady dopamine levels. When the dopamine-creating brain cells continue to die due to Parkinson’s and dopamine levels fluctuate because of regular levodopa intake, the condition leads to dyskinesia. Younger patients are more likely to develop the condition as they need to take medicine for a longer period. It is also common in patients who have to use high doses of levodopa.

Changes in brain structure
Another common reason for dyskinesias is any changes in the brain structure due to injury or damage. For example, if an injury causes loss of oxygen or blood supply to the brain, it can cause athetosis. Suffocation or stroke can also result in dyskinesias. Also, if basal ganglia (the brain’s area responsible for regulating learned habits and voluntary movements) are injured, it can cause dyskinesias.

Symptoms
Symptoms of dyskinesia can differ from patient to patient, depending on the types of the disease they have. The symptoms often first occur as tics or tremors and later develop into more severe conditions, such as:

• Wriggling
• Twitching
• Restlessness
• Head bobbing
• Fidgeting
• Body swaying

It must be mentioned that dyskinesias caused by levodopa use might not cause twitching or similar symptoms. Also, symptoms of dyskinesias resulting from a brain injury often develop suddenly but can also gradually intensify over time.

On the other hand, tardive dyskinesia generally leads to abnormal tongue, lips, and jaw movements. It can also cause waist and hip-swaying, breathing difficulty, arms waving, rapid blinking, and other symptoms. Myoclonus’s symptoms include repetitive sudden muscle jerks and spasms. These symptoms can become painful in severe cases.

Treatments
Treatment for dyskinesias varies depending on the type and individual needs of the patients. Some of the most common treatment forms include:

Medication changes
As already mentioned, dyskinesias can occur due to the long-term use of medicines such as levodopa. In that case, the doctors adjust the timing and dose of the medication to balance dopamine levels. This treatment can help reduce some symptoms. Also, tardive patients are often prescribed AUSTEDO® or INGREZZA®, two FDA-approved neuroleptic medicines. Other medicines used to treat dyskinesias are GOCOVRI®, Duopa, and RYTARY®.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
DBS is a medical procedure often used for reducing symptoms of dyskinesias. It is a form of surgery that involves placing electrodes into Globus Pallidus Interna (GPI) and Subthalamic Nucleus (STN), the brain areas that control posture and movement. However, DBS is not suitable for everyone and can only be performed by a neurosurgeon.

Other treatments
Among some unorthodox treatment options for dyskinesias, botox injections work for some patients. It has the potential to limit movement in affected areas like limbs, face, and neck.

Coping with a disease like dyskinesia can limit your social activities and result in stress. So, you must consult an expert to find ways of effectively reducing stress. It would help if you also made swimming, walking, and other exercises part of your daily life to stay fit.