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Combining Existing Drugs Introduced New Parkinson’s Disease Treatment

Levodopa is the most effective drug we have. But using levodopa starts the clock for developing motor complications such as wearing off phenomena and dyskinesia...

Another common interventional approach for PD patients is dopamine agonists. According to Olanow, these drugs, while not quite as effective as levodopa, are still very effective in treating PD. Despite their efficacy, these drugs have their own side effects.

“Patients using this interventional approach get a lot of dopaminergic side effects — nausea, vomiting, orthostatic hypertension, and hallucinations. The more serious side effects have been sleep-related problems.

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 Parkinson's Pharmacotherapy

There are currently no disease-modifying treatments for PD, with no neuroprotective agents currently available, treatment should only be initiated when quality of life is affected...

Articles of Interest

13 Medications to Help Control Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms

A movement disorders specialist explains the different types of Parkinson’s medications, their side effects and how they can help manage symptoms.

A Critical Reappraisal of the Worst Drugs in Parkinson’s Disease

Patients may not be aware that some common drugs used for conditions such as headache or gastrointestinal dysmotility may also block dopamine, and concomitantly worsen Parkinson’s disease, or alternatively result in parkinsonism. These drugs include Prochlorperazine (Compazine), Promethazine (Phenergan), and Metoclopramide (Reglan). They should be avoided.

Approved Treatments for Parkinson’s Disease

Levodopa is a chemical that is converted into dopamine in the brain to combat the decreasing levels experienced by Parkinson’s patients. It frequently is combined with carbidopa, which prevents levodopa from being converted to dopamine prematurely before it reaches the brain. This treatment is available in several formulations.

We Can Now Stop Hallucinations in Parkinson's

Half of people with Parkinson’s experience delusions and paranoia. The ultimate irony: Meds for these symptoms exacerbate the disease. But a new drug may offer a solution.

Resources

Parkinson's Europe

There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s, but medication can usually provide good symptom control for a long time. Meanwhile researchers continue to search for a cure, and research into new and improved medicines continues.

ParkinsonsDisease.net

There are several drugs used to help manage the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). While there is no known cure for PD or any known treatments that can slow the progression of the disease, current research seeks to find ways to stop the progression.

Pacific Movement Disorders Center

While there are no standard treatments for Parkinson’s disease (PD), there are a number of medications that have been developed to help treat the symptoms of this disease, many of which are caused by a lack of dopamine in the brain. As a result, many of the common medications for Parkinson’s disease are designed to mimic or temporarily replenish those levels.

Parkinson's drugs

The drugs you take for Parkinson's will do one or more of the following: increase the amount of dopamine in the brain, act as a dopamine substitute, stimulating the parts of the brain where dopamine works, block the action of other factors (enzymes) that break down dopamine.