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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffParkinson's disease is often accompanied by these additional problems:
- Depression. This can occur even before other Parkinson's symptoms. Receiving treatment for depression can make it easier to handle the other challenges of Parkinson's disease.
- Sleep problems. People with Parkinson's disease often have trouble falling asleep and may wake up frequently throughout the night. They may also experience sudden sleep onset, called sleep attacks, during the day.
- Difficulty chewing and swallowing. The muscles you use to swallow may be affected in the later stages of the disease, making eating more difficult.
- Urinary problems. Parkinson's disease may cause either urinary incontinence or urine retention. Certain medications used to treat Parkinson's also can make it difficult to urinate.
- Constipation. Many people with Parkinson's disease develop constipation because the digestive tract works more slowly. Constipation may also be a side effect of medications used to treat the disease.
- Sexual dysfunction. Some people with Parkinson's disease may notice a decrease in sexual desire. This may stem from a combination of psychological and physical factors, or it may be the result of physical factors alone.
Medications for Parkinson's disease also may cause a number of complications, including involuntary twitching or jerking movements of the arms or legs, hallucinations, sleepiness, and a drop in blood pressure when standing up.
