One of my first symptoms of p.d. (13 years ago), was a very slight form of dystonia--unknown to me at the time. As time went by, after 6+ years of successful treatment with Mirapex (it controlled the pd symptoms), I had to stop Mirapex because of bad (hallucinations/delusions) side effects. These went away when I tapered off Mirapex and began L-dopa.
When I began the L-dopa, taking 1 mg, 3x daily, I would get dystonia, of a very intense nature (l. leg & foot twisting and cramping). It would begin about an hour after I took the L-dopa and continue for anywhere from 1--3 or more hours. I kept lowering the dose (my neuro worked with me on this) until I was taking 1/4 tab (L-dopa) 3x a day. I was still getting dystonia, but it was slower & not lasting as long---but still unpredictable.
I'm just wondering if anyone is getting similar effects from the meds and have you found something to work for you that is easier and/or more effective with the control of the symptom/side effect condition??
Thank you,
mari

i get dystonia when i am off - like first thing in the morning. The only thing that relieves it is sinemet. I do take anti-cholinergic medication. The neurotransmitter acetycholine is out of balance with dopamine and too high when you are low on dopamine. Anti-cholinergics lower the acetylcholine and sometimes i wake up dystonia free; it remains shorter and less intense with an anticholinergic.

hope that helps; if u are getting cramps while on i still suspect the imbalance of the other transmitters; acetylcholine is responsible for muscle cramping. ask your doctor - do u stay on at this dose of sinemet? are yu taking any other dopaminergic med?

best wishes