Medications Used To Treat Parkinson’s

Impulsive And Compulsive Behaviour

A small number of people taking levodopa have problems with impulsive or compulsive behaviour. This can also be called impulse control disorder. It affects a much smaller percentage of people taking levodopa than those taking dopamine agonists, but it is still a possible side effect. Further information is available at Compulsive and impulsive behaviour.

Another potential problem is dopamine dysregulation syndrome, where someone with Parkinsons might be tempted to take more of their Parkinsons medication than they are prescribed. If you think this is happening to you or the person you are caring for, tell your GP, specialist or Parkinsons nurse right away.

It is important that all people with Parkinsons are monitored for any potential risk of impulsive and compulsive behaviour while being treated with levodopa.

People with Parkinsons, their carers, friends and family members should work with healthcare professionals to monitor any changes in behaviour. If you start to experience these symptoms, you should discuss it with your specialist or Parkinsons nurse immediately. You should not stop taking the medication.

Full List Of Medications Approved For The Treatment Of Parkinsons Disease In The Usa

Below is a full list of Parkinsons medications that have been approved to treat Parkinsons in the United States. This material is intended to provide you with information. It should not be used for treatment purposes, but rather as a source for discussion with the patients own physician. Work with your physician to determine which medications are best for you, and know the risks and benefits of each.

Impulsive And Compulsive Behaviours

People who experience impulsive and compulsive behaviours cant resist the temptation to carry out an activity often one that gives immediate reward or pleasure.

Behaviours may involve gambling, becoming a shopaholic, binge eating or focusing on sexual feelings and thoughts. This can have a huge impact on peoples lives including family and friends.

Not everyone who takes Parkinsons medication will experience impulsive and compulsive behaviours, so these side effects should not put you off taking your medication to control your symptoms.

If you have a history of behaving impulsively you should mention this to your GP, specialist or Parkinsons nurse.

Asking your specialist to make changes to your medication regime or adjusting the doses that you take is the easiest way to control impulsive and compulsive behaviours. So, if you or the person you care for is experiencing this side effect, tell your healthcare professional as soon as possible before it creates large problems.

If you are not able to get through to your healthcare professional straight away, you can call our Parkinsons UK helpline on 0808 800 0303.

We have advice that can help you manage impulsive and compulsive behaviours as well as information on what behaviour to look out for.

If you’re under treatment for coronavirus, and are experiencing side effects with your Parkinson’s treatment, please report it on the government’s Yellow Card website.

Recommended Reading: Does Parkinson’s Disease Cause Death

Is There A Cure For Parkinsons

Theres presently no cure for Parkinsons, an illness that is chronic and worsens in time. More than 50,000 new cases are reported in the United States each year. However there may be much more, because Parkinsons is often misdiagnosed.

Its reported that Parkinsons complications was the 14th major cause of death in the United States in 2016.

What Future Medications May Be Available For Parkinsons

There are numerous studies investigating new treatments for Parkinsons disease.

There has been new information about the role of autoimmunity and T-cells in the development of Parkinsons disease, possibly opening the door to a role for biologics.

Stem cells are also being investigated as a treatment option for Parkinsons disease.

You May Like: How Do I Know If I Have Parkinson’s

Exploring Seven Recently Approved Parkinsons Treatments

Remarkably, in the last five years, seven new medications have been approved for the treatment of the motor symptoms of Parkinsons disease , with two approved in 2020. Thats exciting progress! And while it is great to have so many choices, the various options can be confusing so today I will describe these new medications and their uses.

Some Disadvantages Of Comt Inhibitors

These drugs can increase the side effects caused by levodopa, notably dyskinesias , nausea and vomiting.

If these side effects increase after starting the drug, people should raise the issue with their healthcare professional, as reducing the levodopa dose can often help.

COMT inhibtors will discolour urine making it a reddish-brown colour. Some people also experience diarrhoea which may occur some months after commencing the medication.

Be aware that other drugs for Parkinsons or other conditions can affect the action of COMT inhibitors. The combination of apomorphine and entacapone needs careful supervision.

Don’t Miss: Can Parkinson’s Cause Incontinence

Side Effects Of Mysoline

Mysoline may cause unwanted side effects in the short term however, these side effects diminish with longer use. Side effects of Mysoline may include:

• Difficulty walking

Serious complications with the drug are rare but could include blood cell and bone marrow problems. Your health care provider will check your blood counts every six to 12 months to screen for these problems. Mysoline has a drug interaction with phenobarbital, so the drugs should not be taken together.

Before taking Mysoline, be sure to tell your doctor if you:

• Are pregnant or nursing
• Have kidney or liver problems
• Have blood count problems

In addition, you should avoid alcoholic beverages while taking Mysoline. Do not stop taking the drug suddenly or switch brands without first consulting with your health care provider.

Withdrawal Syndrome With Levodopa

Research has shown that withdrawal symptoms can happen when someone very suddenly stops taking levodopa, perhaps because they are experiencing impulsive and compulsive behaviour. It can lead to symptoms such as depression, anxiety and pain. Any withdrawal from Parkinsons medications needs to be done gradually, under the supervision of a health professional, to avoid the risk of developing this syndrome.

You May Like: Can Parkinson’s Cause Hair Loss

Controlled Release Madopar And Sinemet

Controlled release preparations have the letters CR or HBS after the drug name.

These let the levodopa enter your body slowly instead of all at once. They can increase the time between doses.

They may be used when the dose of standard levodopa starts to wear off and the person taking it no longer feels the treatment is effective.

Controlled release options can sometimes reduce involuntary movements .

Treatment Of Late Stage Complications Of Parkinson’s Disease

Postural hypotension

Levodopa and dopamine agonists worsen postural hypotension and it may be necessary to lower the dose of levodopa or withdraw the agonist. Treatment is difficult, but patients should be advised to sleep with the head of the bed raised by one or two bricks and to add salt to their diet. Fludrocortisone can then be added at a dose of 0.1 mg in the morning, increasing if necessary up to 0.5 mg in the morning. If these measures are ineffective, the alpha agonist midodrine 10-20 mg four hourly can be useful but it is experimental and only available via the Special Access Scheme. Patients treated for postural hypotension need to have electrolytes, renal function and supine blood pressures closely monitored.

Parkinsonian psychosis, depression and dementia

Psychotic symptoms such as visual hallucinations and persecutory delusions occur most commonly in the setting of dementia, which may be mild and therefore easily missed. Most drugs for Parkinson’s disease make these symptoms worse. Depression is also common and requires treatment in its own right.

Recommended Reading: Which Is Worse Ms Or Parkinson’s

Side Effects And Problems With Dopamine Agonists

Common side effects of dopamine agonists include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Hallucinations or delusions and confusion
• Existing dyskinesias becoming more troublesome initially

If you are taking Cabergoline , Pergolide or Bromocriptine your neurologist or GP will have to arrange a chest CT scan or ultrasound of your heart yearly as over time these medications may effect heart or lung tissue.

This precaution does not apply to the other dopamine agonists available in Australia.

Also Check: Is Thumb Twitching A Sign Of Parkinsons

Which Medication Will I Take

You will be prescribed levodopa, a dopamine agonist or an MAO-B inhibitor. Which medication you take depends on how much your symptoms affect you and other factors, such as your age and your lifestyle.

Most people find they tolerate their treatment well and will return to clinic after six to eight weeks to review their response. This is when your specialist or Parkinsons nurse will increase or decrease the doses, the frequency, or add new drugs until your symptoms are as controlled as possible.

Before leaving the clinic you should get the contact details of your Parkinsons nurse or the number of the clinic in case you have any problems with side effects.

Recommended Reading: Hallucinations Associated With Parkinson’s Disease

Prevention Of The Breakdown Of Endogenous Dopamine Medications

MAO-B Inhibitors work by inhibiting the enzymes involved in dopamine metabolism, which preserves the levels of endogenous dopamine. While they are sometimes sufficient for control of symptoms in early disease, most patients ultimately require levodopa-based treatment. MAO-B inhibitors may also be used in combination with levodopa-based preparations, to allow for a reduction in the levodopa dose. Commonly used MAO-B inhibitors include selegiline and rasagiline . More recently, the drug safinamide was also approved for use in PD, which appears to have multiple modes of action, one of which is thought to be inhibition of MAO-B . MAO-B inhibitors are generally well tolerated, with gastrointestinal side effects being the most common problem. Other adverse effects include aching joints, depression, fatigue, dry mouth, insomnia, dizziness, confusion, nightmares, hallucinations, flu-like symptoms, indigestion, and headache.

Catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitors: another enzyme that is involved in dopamine degradation is COMT. These drugs are predominantly used as adjunctive therapy to levodopa, prolonging its duration of action by increasing its half-life and its delivery to the brain. COMT inhibitors come in the form of tablets and are not generally prescribed as monotherapy, as on their own they offer only limited effect on PD symptoms. Examples of COMT inhibitors include entacapone , tolcapone , and opicapone .

Side Effects And Problems Of Anticholinergics

Another reason these drugs are not a first choice for treating Parkinsons are their side effects. Some people may experience confusion, a dry mouth, constipation and blurred vision when taking anticholinergics.

Anticholinergics may interfere with levodopa absorption in the small bowel, which reduces the effectiveness of Madopar or Sinemet, forms of the drug levodopa.

Anticholinergics are not usually prescribed to older people with Parkinsons because there is an increased risk of memory loss and, in men, problems urinating.

Read Also: What Is Used To Treat Parkinson’s Disease

How Is Parkinsons Disease Diagnosed

Diagnosing Parkinsons disease is sometimes difficult, since early symptoms can mimic other disorders and there are no specific blood or other laboratory tests to diagnose the disease. Imaging tests, such as CT or MRI scans, may be used to rule out other disorders that cause similar symptoms.

To diagnose Parkinsons disease, you will be asked about your medical history and family history of neurologic disorders as well as your current symptoms, medications and possible exposure to toxins. Your doctor will look for signs of tremor and muscle rigidity, watch you walk, check your posture and coordination and look for slowness of movement.

If you think you may have Parkinsons disease, you should probably see a neurologist, preferably a movement disorders-trained neurologist. The treatment decisions made early in the illness can affect the long-term success of the treatment.

Recommended Reading: Wearable Technology For Parkinson Disease

Monoamine Oxidase B Inhibitors

Other PD medications work by inhibiting the enzymes involved in dopamine metabolism, which preserves the levels of endogenous dopamine. One such class is the MAO-B inhibitors. As is discussed above, MAO-B is one of the main enzymes involved in the breakdown of dopamine, and reducing the activity of this enzyme therefore results in increased dopaminergic activity within the striatum, mediated by endogenous dopamine . Their use relieves motor symptoms in PD patients, and as with dopamine agonists they may be used as an initial treatment option, to delay the need for levodopa therapy, to reduce the risk of levodopa-induced motor complications . While they are sometimes sufficient for control of symptoms in early disease, most patients ultimately require levodopa-based treatment. MAO-B inhibitors may also be used in combination with levodopa-based preparations, to allow for a reduction in the levodopa dose.

Recommended Reading: What Helps With Parkinson’s Disease

How Do These Other Drugs Work

Every drug on this page works differently. Some have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat non-motor symptoms in people with PD.2

Some have been approved for the general population but have not been well-studied in large numbers of people with PD. However, doctors commonly prescribe these drugs, and many people with PD often find that they improve their non-motor symptoms.2

Generic Vs Branded Drugs

Currently, there are multiple pharmaceutical companies that manufacture a generic formulation of carbidopa-levodopa, dopamine agonists, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and anticholinergics. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that generic drugs show a similar risk and benefit to the branded drug prior to market approval, but in rare cases this standard is not high enough.

A review supported by the Parkinsons Foundation reports evidence that if you are in more advanced stages of the disease, switching from branded drugs to generic, or from one generic to another, may have somewhat variable effects. The authors, including Parkinsons Foundation National Medical Advisor Michael S. Okun, MD, believe that the standards for approving generic drugs for PD may not be strict enough to demonstrate that the generic alternatives are equally effective.

Work with your doctor to develop a tailored treatment plan. Using generic drugs will likely provide a cost savings. Infrequently, a person living with PD may require brand medication.

If you make the switch, follow these tips:

• Report to your physician on the effectiveness of the drugs.
• Carefully keep a diary of any side effects.
• Record dose adjustments made by your physicians .
• Try to stay with a single drug manufacturer for your generic medications. You may need to ask your pharmacist to special order for you.

You May Like: Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Day 2022

Names Of Parkinsons Drugs

Drugs for Parkinsons can be divided into three categories.

On our website, we have listed drugs in the following order to help you see each category clearly.

• The class or type of drug, for example levodopa.
• The generic name, such as co-beneldopa, which will include the active ingredients of the drug. For example, co-beneldopa is a combination of levodopa and benserazide.
• The brand name. For example, Madopar is the name that the pharmaceutical company, Roche, uses to sell co-beneldopa.

Your specialist will decide whether to prescribe you branded or generic versions of your medication. It usually depends on which area of the country you are in or what is most common to prescribe in that area. Once there are no longer any legal rights to the brand name any company can make generic versions of a drug.

The active ingredient of a generic drug is always the same as the branded version and lots of people wont have any problems using the generic medication.

In the UK, a generic or branded medicine needs a licence and there is a strict process for this. This means that the quality of a generic or branded version of the same medicine will be the same, and they will also act in the same way.

If you find that you respond a bit differently to generic medication, discuss this with your specialist or Parkinsons nurse.

The brand name will usually be the most visible name on your packet of medication. The generic name is usually written in small print.

Stay Safe With Your Medicines

Read all labels carefully.

• Tell all your health care providers about all the medicines and supplements you take.
• Know all the medicines and foods youâre allergic to.
• Review any side effects your medicines can cause. Most reactions will happen when you start taking something, but thatâs not always the case. Some reactions may be delayed or may happen when you add a drug to your treatment. Call your doctor right away about anything unusual.
• Use one pharmacy if possible. Try to fill all your prescriptions at the same location, so the pharmacist can watch for drugs that might interact with each other.
• You can use online tools to see if any of your medicines wonât work well together.

You have the right and responsibility to know what medications your doctor prescribes. The more you know about them and how they work, the easier it will be for you to control your symptoms. You and your doctor can work together to create and change a medication plan. Make sure that you understand and share the same treatment goals. Talk about what you should expect from medications so that you can know if your treatment plan is working.

Show Sources

Also Check: How Can I Help My Dad With Parkinson’s

Medications Used To Treat Parkinsons Disease

Nice To Know:

A few important comments before describing the medications for Parkinsons Disease

• Drug therapy for Parkinsons disease, and the choice of drugs used for the treatment of Parkinsons disease, should be a joint decision between the person with Parkinsons disease and the physician, based on the severity of symptoms and their impact on quality of life.
• It is emphasized that treatment for Parkinsons disease should always be individually tailored for each person.
• Never compare your treatment schedules with those of other people with Parkinsons Disease. You are all different.

Properly selected medications with the correctly tailored dose form the mainstay of treatment of Parkinsons Disease.

Drugs currently used to treat Parkinsons Disease make movement easier and can prolong function for many years. Medications aim to replace or mimic the missing chemical dopamine in the brain.

The following are the medications used in the treatment of Parkinsons Disease. Each will be considered below.