However, since levodopa is intermittently taken over the course of a day, the level of dopamine will rise and fall. These dopamine level fluctuations, in combination with the loss of dopaminergic neurons, are thought to cause dyskinesia.

Why does levodopa dopa cause dyskinesia?

A growing body of evidence indicates that levodopa-induced dyskinesia is caused by conflicting, uneven regulatory changes in the basal ganglia circuitry, resulting from both dopamine depletion and drug treatment.

Why do Parkinson's patients have dyskinesia?

Levodopa temporarily restores dopamine, but because the medication has to be taken several times per day, dopamine levels rise and fall. These fluctuating levels, and the continued loss of dopamine-producing brain cells, make it impossible to keep a steady level of dopamine, which contributes to dyskinesia.