A man and a woman sitting on a park bench with a dog in their lap.

Knowing when you're "On" and "Off"

“On” time is when your medication is working well. This means you’re within what’s called the “sweet spot”—where your levodopa levels are neither too high nor too low.

“Off” time is when your medication is not working well or is no longer helping with mobility, slowness, stiffness, and tremor. Every patient’s experience of “Off” time is different, and you may experience symptoms unique to you.

“Off” time over 24 hours

When you're taking levodopa pills, "Off" time may present itself in different ways, such as:

Early morning “Off”
before the first dose kicks in

Middle-of-the-night “Off”
when the dose you take before going to sleep wears off

24
HOURS

“Off” time after eating
a big or protein-rich meal

Delayed “On”
due to constipation or slow digestion (these can affect how the medication works)

This visual does not include all the types of "Off" time that patients with Parkinson's may experience.

Find a doctor who specializes in Parkinson’s disease

Describing your "On" and "Off" time will help you and your doctor choose the best treatment option for you.

A doctor talking to a patient.

The goal of a continuously delivered levodopa therapy is to smooth the "peaks and valleys" that may be associated with taking pills.