Side effects and limitations are an important consideration for any medication, and this is especially true of chorea treatment. It can be a balancing act of reducing involuntary movements without creating new problems that feel just as disruptive.
Treatment also has limits over time. Anti-chorea therapy should be reevaluated regularly, because as Huntington’s progresses, the focus of care may shift.
“Typically, as symptoms progress, the thinking, memory, and behavior symptoms are the more disabling features,” says Hill.
Also, some medications that help with some symptoms may cause side effects that include worsening other symptoms. People with Huntington’s disease may also develop other movement problems like dystonia (abnormal muscle contractions) or even Parkinson-like symptoms, she says.
Chorea treatment is often a balancing act, and that’s why regular check-ins with a neurologist are so important: The best treatment or treatments early on may not still be the right ones later.
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