Conditions and symptoms
What Is Parkinsonism? Why Medicine Labels Warn About It
Parkinsonism · say it: PAR-kin-suh-niz-umAlso written: parkinsonian symptoms, drug-induced parkinsonism, extrapyramidal symptoms
Short answer
Parkinsonism is a group of movement symptoms like those of Parkinson's disease: slowness, stiffness, tremor and unsteady walking.
What it means
Parkinsonism is a general word for movement symptoms that look like Parkinson's disease. These include slowness of movement, stiff muscles, a shaking tremor, a shuffling walk and poor balance. Parkinson's disease is one cause, but there are others, including some medicines.
Medicine labels, especially for antipsychotics and some anti-sickness medicines, list parkinsonism because these medicines block dopamine, a brain chemical that helps control movement. When dopamine is blocked, Parkinson-like symptoms can appear. Labels warn about it so that new stiffness, slowness or tremor is reported early and the treatment can be reviewed.
Parkinsonism is not the same as tardive dyskinesia. Parkinsonism is slowness and stiffness. Tardive dyskinesia is unwanted, repeated movements, often of the mouth and face, that can develop after longer use of some of the same medicines.
Where you may see it
- The 'Warnings' and 'Adverse Reactions' sections of antipsychotic medicine labels
- Leaflets for some anti-sickness medicines under 'Side effects'
- Neurology clinic letters
📄 How it looks on a report
Extrapyramidal symptoms, including parkinsonism, akathisia and dystonia, have been reported.
🙅 What it does not mean
- Parkinsonism on a label does not mean the medicine causes Parkinson's disease.
- It does not mean it will happen to you. Labels list side effects that have been reported, not ones that are certain.
- Do not stop a medicine on your own because of this warning. Talk to your doctor, who can review the dose or the medicine.
🎯 Check yourself
Which of these is the right meaning of “Parkinsonism”?
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Parkinsonism”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride
an antihistamine (an antihistaminic agent) given by injection into a vein or deep into a muscle
- Risperidone
an atypical antipsychotic medicine
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Parkinsonism” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.