Shortness of breath when "off"

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 12:59 pm Post subject: Shortness of Breath when 'Off'

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Why do we experience shortness of breath when med are off? Is it because any movement requires additional exertion or is it because Parkinson's affects the muscles that control breathing? Thank you.

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Dr. Fernandez



Joined: 20 Jan 2007
Posts: 90

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 8:47 pm Post subject:

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Wearing off in PD can be manifested in different ways. Most often, it is manifested by the return of or an increase of stiffness (rigidity), slowness (bradykinesia) and shaking (tremor). But sometimes, wearing off can be manifested in other ways, such as shortness of breath, even slowed thinking, depression, anxiety, panic attacks. I can't tell you why patients experience wearing off differently.

Sometimes, when dyskinesias are significant, the coordination of diaphragmatic muscles and chest muscles are not as well in such so even peak dose or diphasic dyskinesias can also be manifested by shortness of breath.

Yours,
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Hubert H. Fernandez

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