Some mild side effects are muscle spasms or muscle weakness; sleepiness, dizziness, confusion, or memory problems; weakness; dry mouth, nausea, constipation, or increased urination; or insomnia and unusual dreams. If these persist or worsen, consult with a doctor or pharmacist.
To reduce the feeling of dizziness or lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.
There are rare but more serious side effects. If you feel that you are fainting, experience mood changes such as confusion, agitation, or hallucinations, have strong and unusual desires (gambling or sexual urges), sudden difficulty moving or walking, feel muscle cramps or spasms, swelling of the ankles or feet, feel chest pain, fever, unusual heartbeat, changes in the frequency of urination or vision changes, go at once to an emergency healthcare facility. Take the package of medication with.
Please bear in mind that not all possible side effects can be listed. If you experience any of these or other unexpected side effects, seek medical attention from your prescribing physician.
There are no specific blood tests, imaging, or other routine tests to detect Parkinson’s Disease. It typically starts with subtle symptoms such as tremors, which usually start in one hand but progress to affect the extremities, slowness of movement (bradykinesia), muscle rigidity and stiffness in the limbs, or postural instability and balance problems.
A clinical diagnosis is primarily based on medical history, assessment of symptoms, and a neurological examination. A more complex specialized imaging test that looks at the dopamine in the brain (DaTscan) may be necessary if a final diagnosis can’t be reached.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) symptoms are most often felt in the late afternoon or evening hours and are most potent at night when trying to sleep. RLS makes falling asleep and returning to sleep after being woken difficult. The discomfort is reduced by moving legs or walking, but typically, the sensations recur soon after movement stops.