Quick Facts about Dopa-Responsive Dystonia
- Dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) is a broad term used to describe forms of dystonia that respond to a medication called levodopa, which is a synthetic form of a brain chemical called dopamine.
- DRD includes heredity forms that are characterized by progressive difficulty walking.
- Symptoms of DRD may be similar to those of early onset generalized dystonia and typically begin in the legs.
- Symptoms of DRD are often worse later in the day and may increase with exertion.
- DRD can usually be treated effectively with a drug called levodopa, and most often a combination of levodopa and carbidopa.
- In many cases, full physical functionality—including walking, running, speaking, writing—is restored or preserved with levodopa therapy.
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