Spasm from Pramipexole?

I take pramipexole for extreme restlessness in arms, legs and trunk. But because of this, my back, neck and head started to bend forward more and more (a spasm, as my doctor calls it). If I try to taper off the drug, the restlessness returns. What now?

Answer:

You are faced with a difficult dilemma. In order to make the right choice, it is wise to find out what is going on. Axial dystonia is a side effect of pramipexole that occasionally occurs in patients taking the drug for Parkinson’s disease. You can no longer keep your body and neck straight and upright. People who use pramipexole for restless legs mainly have other side effects. In the long run, the drug can actually make the symptoms worse. You notice this because the symptoms increase when the dose is increased and decrease when it decreases. Reducing the dose has unfortunately not had the desired result for you. Since you do want treatment against the uncontrolled jerking movements, a referral to a neurologist is the most logical next step.

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