Living with Parkinson’s
Rachel Dolhun, MD, is
a movement disorder
specialist, board-certified
neurologist and vice
president of medical
communications at MJFF.
Photo by Chad Batka
DR. DOLHUN TALKS PD
The Language of
Parkinson’s: “Off” Time
“Off ” is a term doctors and researchers use frequently in Parkinson’s
care and research. But people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) may be
less familiar with this term or what it means for them.
“OFF” IS TIME when
Parkinson’s symptoms —
motor and sometimes non-
motor — return, often because
medication isn’t working
optimally. Not everyone
experiences “off ” time, but
it’s more common with taking
levodopa for longer periods.
“Off ” can come on in various
ways: when you wake up, DEFINING “OFF” TIME
before you take your morning “Off ” involves a person’s usual
medication, or throughout symptoms, so these times look
the day. When “off ” happens different in each individual.
during the day, symptoms can For some, “off ” might be
reemerge gradually before the painful cramping and inward
next dose of medication is turning of the foot (dystonia)
scheduled, or suddenly and that interferes with morning
randomly. routines. For others, it could be
10
The Fox Focus