Segawa’s dystonia is a special type of
Dopamine-responsive dystonia (DRD).
Dopamine treats this disease but it
can’t be used directly; dopamine can’t
enter the brain. Instead, the medication
Levo-DOPA (L-DOPA) enters the brain and
transforms into dopamine in the brain
cells. The side effects of L-DOPA are loss
of appetite, nausea, vomiting,
tachycardia, hypotension, unlikely
movements (dyskinesia) and mental side
effects (anxiety, depression, insomnia,
somnolence, confusion). All these side
effects can be reduced by using L-DOPA + a
carboxilasa-inhibitor. Further, the side
effects are redcuted with temporary
cessation of the medicine (“a drug
holiday”).
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