Speech dysfluency exacerbated by levodopa in Parkinson's disease

The role of dopamine in the modulation of speech fluency is complex. In thi s report we describe two patients with Parkinson's disease whose speech dys fluency was exacerbated by the administration of levodopa. In doing so, we extend the observation that dopaminergic mechanisms may be involved in the regulation of speech fluency. It is important for clinicians to recognize t hat; in some instances, dopaminergic replacement therapy may exacerbate an underlying dysfluency syndrome in PD.