Table 2 Types of ‘Levodopa Phobia’ types and possible motor and non-motor complications
From: ‘Levodopa Phobia’: a review of a not uncommon and consequential phenomenon
Types of ‘Levodopa Phobia’ | Patterns of complications and clinical consequences |
|---|---|
Complete ‘Levodopa Phobia’ | Severe akinesia causing lack of mobility |
Contractures | |
Respiratory tract infections | |
Severe nociceptive pain | |
Depression and anhedonia | |
Social withdrawal and carer dependence | |
Poor compliance and secret rejection of levodopa use | Report of lack of any effect of levodopa inspite of apparent use |
Precipitation of unnecessary investigations for atypical ‘levodopa-resistant’ parkinsonism | |
A tendency to seek multiple medical consultations owing to ‘lack of effect’ of therapy | |
Possibility of development of impulse control disorders because of potential overuse of other (e.g., dopamine agonist) therapies |
