Parkinsons Information & Discounts

How can I manage

Treatment for Parkinson's Disease isn't limited to Parkinson medication. For severe cases, the doctor may recommend surgical deep brain stimulation. This involves directly applying electrical pulses to the parts of the brain that control movement. Another surgery involves eradicating the parts of the brain that cause Parkinson's Disease. Research is being done into stem cell therapies, and support groups, physical therapy and speech therapy can compensate for some of the difficulties.

Most Parkinson treatment involves delaying the progression of the disease, or utilizing Parkinson's drugs to suppress its symptoms. Initial Parkinson medication regimes usually aim to promote dopamine in the brain, simulate dopamine, or prevent the reuptake of dopamine (i.e., keep it from breaking down). The earlier these Parkinson's Disease drugs can be implemented, the more effective they will be. Other aspects that can be treated with Parkinson's medication include muscle tremors, akinesia, rigidity, and decline in mood, psychosis and dementia. These should only be used as the symptoms appear. Some post-menopausal women with Parkinson's may be prescribed estrogen.

What are the different types of medications for

Maintaining dopamine levels

There are two different kinds of drugs that can affect dopamine levels in the brain: MAO B inhibitors and dopamine agonists. While severe dopamine deficiency is the essential cause of the disorder, these are generally considered to be the lesser the Parkinson's Disease drugs, especially the MAO B inhibitors (or monoamine oxidase B inhibitors). MAO B inhibitors affect dopamine levels by interfering with the proteins that inactivate the neurochemical, and in some cases may protect neurons that produce it. Some people taking MAO B inhibitors don't notice much, if any, improvement.

Dopamine agonists, which directly stimulate the neurochemical receptors for dopamine, are most effective in early onset Parkinson's and in the earlier stages of normal onset. They're seen as more effective than MAO B inhibitors and can delay the need for other suppressive medications, but have more side effects than medications used later in the progression of the disease. Dopamine agonists are especially useful for delaying the onset of dyskinesias and other motor control difficulties.

Suppressing physical symptoms

This group of drugs is probably the most important Parkinson's medication. They're often given in coordination, selected to best address a patient's specific needs. Levodopa is almost always prescribed, and is seen as the single best effective drug for suppressing symptoms, especially rigidity and akinesia. COMT inhibitors (or catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitors) may be prescribed to extend the duration of Levodopa's effects. Those with early onset or with only mild motor difficulties may be prescribed anticholinergics to suppress muscle tremors; they can also be given alongside Levodopa for patients with persistent tremors. In advanced cases, patients may be prescribed certain antivirals that also affect dyskinesia and other motor fluctuations, or drugs like diazepam can help with difficulties chewing and swallowing.

Psychiatric improvement

There are a number of corollary psychiatric effects of Parkinson's, including sleep disorders, psychosis, dementia, hallucinations, and anxiety and depression. Depression is the most commonly associated, not least because of the disorder's effect on dopamine, which affects happiness. Medications like SSRIs are common, but some medications that can improve agitation and anxiety, such as diazepam, can also assist with motor symptoms in later progressions of the disorder, such as difficulty swallowing. Insomnia is also not uncommon, and likewise, unusual daytime exhaustion and fatigue, and these are regulated individually, sometimes with the assistance of stimulants during the day. The similarities between Parkinson's and Alzheimer's means that medications for memory and dementia for the latter are also useful for Parkinson's.

What are the symptoms of

Unfortunately, there is no test to definitively detect Parkinson's Disease, and symptoms begin mildly enough to be overlooked, so diagnosing the disorder can be difficult. The progression of impairment will vary from patient to patient, however in most cases, symptoms begin on one side of the body, and progress to affect the entire body. These include: muscle trembling (especially in the hands, jaw, arms, legs, and face), slow movement, loss of balance and coordination, stiffness in arms, legs and core, numbness. This may progress to difficulty speaking, swallowing, or even chewing. In severe cases, disability sets on more quickly and can lead to harmful or deadly falls, etc.

A side effect or secondary symptom of Parkinson's may include anxiety and depression. In severe cases, the patient may also experience dementia.