A whole month is hard to remember in one appointment.
When does each dose kick in, and when does it wear off?
Your neurologist may ask you to keep a symptom diary to track the timing and pattern of your symptoms (American Parkinson Disease Association). The Parkinson’s Foundation suggests bringing a symptom log to every appointment. This diary puts the ON and OFF pattern, every dose and every symptom on paper.
Fill it in on screen, or print it and use a pen. A care partner can keep it too.
Every half-hour, one check
From 6 am to midnight, for three days before each visit, plus a check when you take a dose.
Set up once, then a little every day
Your care team, and every medicine with the exact time of each dose. Fill in the hospital page and cut out the wallet cards.
Check off each dose as soon as you take it. Before a visit, keep the half-hour ON/OFF diary for three days.
Rate 19 symptoms each week, note falls and freezing, and write what changed and your questions for the neurologist.
Ready for the hospital before you need it.
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1What to bring and what to sayFrom the Parkinson’s Foundation’s hospital guidance.
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2A page for the ERYour medicines and exact times, allergies, DBS device and contacts.
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3Two wallet cards“I have Parkinson’s disease. My medicines must be given on time, every time.”
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4Medicines that need careWhich kinds the Parkinson’s Foundation warns about, so every new one gets checked.
65 pages for a full year
Pages shown with example entries. Also inside: ON, OFF and dyskinesia explained, My Care Team, My Medicines, medicine changes, a falls and freezing log and 4 doctor-visit pages.
What this diary is, and isn’t
It is
- A clear record of ON and OFF times, doses and symptoms
- A year of pages in one file, fillable or printable
- Something to bring to every neurology appointment
- Yours to keep: no app, no subscription, no login
It isn’t
- Medical advice, or a replacement for your neurologist
- A reason to change, skip or stop a medicine on your own
- Affiliated with or endorsed by any Parkinson’s organization
- A paper book (it’s a PDF you print or fill in)
- 12 half-hour ON/OFF diary days (4 visits × 3 days)
- 12 months of medicine check-off charts
- 12 monthly symptom checks (19 symptoms + falls)
- Hospital page and 2 wallet cards
- Falls and freezing log, 52-week exercise tracker
- 4 doctor-visit pages · fillable, US Letter + A4
Save with a bundle
Get this together with related tools, for less than buying them one by one.
Good to know
Can I fill it in on my phone?
Yes, with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader app. On a computer, open it in Chrome, Edge or Adobe Acrobat Reader. Save after each entry. Or print it and write by hand.
What is an ON/OFF diary?
A record, every half-hour, of whether your medicine is working (ON), has worn off (OFF), is working with extra involuntary movements (dyskinesia), or you were asleep, alongside when you took each dose. Your neurologist may ask for one to see the timing and pattern of your symptoms. If they give you their own diary, use theirs.
Do I have to fill in the diary every day?
No. The ON/OFF diary is for three days before each visit. The daily part is just checking off each dose; the symptom check is once a week.
Can a care partner keep it?
Yes. A care partner can provide useful observations (American Parkinson Disease Association), so their notes help the neurologist too.
Does it tell me how to change my medicines?
No. It is a diary for recording and sharing information with your care team. Never change, skip or stop a Parkinson’s medicine without talking to your neurologist first. In an emergency, call 911.
Is it dated?
No. Each month has a space for the month and year, so you can start any time.
Fall Prevention Planner
A fall log for the doctor, the CDC fall risk checklist, a room-by-room home check and an 8-week strength tracker.
Write it down. Bring it along. Get more from the visit.
Set it up once with your exact dose times, then keep a clear record of your days to share with your neurologist.
Get the diary · $12