What is GOOD ON time and why is it so important?
GOOD ON time occurs when a person with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experiences good symptom control and they are not bothered by dyskinesia. During GOOD ON time, you can go about your day with minimal PD symptoms. That means you can get back to the activities that are important to you, like exercising and socializing. To better understand how GOOD ON time can be achieved, let’s take a look at a common treatment journey for PD.
A common treatment journey for PD
Starting treatment with levodopa
As PD progresses, the brain makes less dopamine. Levodopa is a medication that helps replace lost dopamine and works well—often for several years.
Adjusting your current treatment regimen
Over time, you may find that your levodopa may not manage your PD symptoms like it once did and motor complications arise (when you experience OFF time and dyskinesia).
When this happens, your healthcare provider may adjust your levodopa dose or frequency or add on different PD treatments. It is normal and expected to have different treatments at various phases of your PD treatment journey.
Finding a balance for more GOOD ON time
Adjusting levodopa or adding on other treatments or therapies to manage motor complications can result in a "balancing act," where you have to accept more OFF time to avoid dyskinesia or accept dyskinesia to avoid OFF time.
In order to optimize the amount of GOOD ON time in your day, it’s important to communicate with your healthcare provider about what type of symptoms you are experiencing so your PD treatments can be tailored.
The ideal treatment regimen is one where you experience more GOOD ON time without having to accept more OFF time or dyskinesia.
What is OFF time?
During OFF time, PD medication is no longer providing PD symptom benefits and motor symptoms can occur, such as:
Muscle Stiffness (Rigidity)
Slowed Movement/Stillness
Resting Tremor
Balance Issues/Coordination
What is dyskinesia?
Dyskinesia is a side effect of levodopa and/or other PD medications. It’s defined by uncontrolled, involuntary movement of the face, arms, legs, or trunk that can cause:
Body Swaying
Head Bobbing
Twitching/ Fidgeting/Rapid Jerking
Rhythmic, Dance-like Movements
It’s important to discuss how and when you are experiencing OFF time and dyskinesia with your healthcare provider.
How is tremor different than dyskinesia?
Tremor is a symptom of PD that typically occurs when a person is stationary and appears as a continuous back-and-forth movement.
Dyskinesia is a complication of PD medication that can present in a number of ways, including wriggling, chaotic movements or rocking movements.
Compromising on daily activities
Motor complications (OFF time and dyskinesia) were cited as the top symptoms affecting quality of life in a survey of people who have had PD for at least 6 years. They can get in the way of many things including:
Work
Hobbies
Daily Routine
Meals
Social Events
While this treatment journey is common for treating PD, it isn’t the only option.
It's important to communicate both OFF time and dyskinesia symptoms to your healthcare provider so they can determine the best treatment path to achieving GOOD ON time.
Start the conversation with the help of our discussion guide.