Sleep disturbances are common and often significant, affecting up to 60-80% of people living with Parkinson’s. These disturbances can take various forms, including difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, restless legs syndrome (RLS), and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder. Sleep disturbances are thought to result from a combination of factors, including changes in the brain’s neurotransmitter systems, medication effects, motor symptoms disrupting sleep patterns, and the presence of other coexisting conditions such as depression or anxiety. This is why your neurologist may prescribe a slow-release dopamine replacement (e.g. Sinement 200/50 SR) to maintain a level of dopamine in your system overnight.
REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) is particularly prevalent, characterised by calling out in the night and acting out dreams physically, which can lead to injury for you or your bed partner.
Proper management involves a comprehensive approach that may include adjusting medications, addressing motor symptoms that interfere with sleep, treating coexisting conditions, practising good sleep hygiene, and potentially using medications to improve sleep quality. Managing sleep disturbances effectively can significantly enhance overall wellbeing and quality of life, so speak to your care team about your symptoms and management solutions.
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