Looking Out For Side Effects If You’re A Carer
If youre a carer of someone with Parkinsons, medication side effects can be difficult and tiring to cope with.
It may be that the person having side effects such as hallucinations and delusions or impulsive and compulsive behaviour does not realise they are experiencing them.
Its important to seek help from your specialist as soon as you can.
Parkinsons Disease: Symptoms Treatment And More
Parkinsons illness is a progressive neurological disorder. The first indications are issues with movement. Smooth and coordinated bodily muscle movements are enabled by dopamine, a substance in the brain. Dopamine is produced in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra.In Parkinsons, the cells of the substantia nigra start to die. When this occurs, dopamine levels are decreased. When they have dropped 60 to 80 percent, symptoms of Parkinsons start to appear.
Drugs And Medication Used To Treat Parkinsons Illness
A number of different drugs can be utilized to treat Parkinsons.
Levodopa
Levodopa is the most common treatment for Parkinsons. It assists to replenish dopamine.
About 75 percent of cases react to levodopa, however not all signs are improved. Levodopa is normally given with carbidopa.
Carbidopa delays the breakdown of levodopa which in turn increases the schedule of levodopa at the blood-brain barrier.
Dopamine Agonists
Dopamine agonists can imitate the action of dopamine in the brain. Theyre less reliable than levodopa, however they can be beneficial as bridge medications when levodopa is less efficient.
Drugs in this class include bromocriptine, pramipexole, and ropinirole.
Anticholinergics
Anticholinergics are utilized to obstruct the parasympathetic nervous system. They can aid with rigidity.
Benztropine and trihexyphenidyl are anticholinergics used to treat Parkinsons.
Amantadine
Amantadine can be utilized along with carbidopa-levodopa. Its a glutamate-blocking drug . It provides short-term relief for the involuntary movements that can be an adverse effects of levodopa.
COMT Inhibitors
Catechol O-methyltransferase inhibitors extend the impact of levodopa. Entacapone and tolcapone are examples of COMT inhibitors.
Tolcapone can trigger liver damage. Its generally saved for people who do not respond to other therapies.
Ectacapone does not trigger liver damage.
Stalevo is a drug that combines ectacapone and carbidopa-levodopa in one pill.
MAO-B Inhibitors
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What Is Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsons disease is a nervous system disease that affects your ability to control movement. The disease usually starts out slowly and worsens over time. If you have Parkinsons disease, you may shake, have muscle stiffness, and have trouble walking and maintaining your balance and coordination. As the disease worsens, you may have trouble talking, sleeping, have mental and memory problems, experience behavioral changes and have other symptoms.
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.
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Naturaltreatment For Parkinsons #9 Exercise And Other Alternative Therapies:
Regular exercise has been shown to help Parkinsonssufferers by reducing muscle stiffness, increasing mobility, and enhancing postureand balance. Exercise also increases oxygen levels and neurotransmitters, alongwith releasing potent mood elevating chemicals called endorphins.
The type of exercise performed for PD is crucial. Aqua orwater aerobics can be particularly useful as traditional exercise is usuallyquite difficult for many Parkinsons sufferers. Muscle decline, loss of strength,stiffness and loss of balance can make conventional exercises difficult toperform. The great thing about aqua aerobics is it still has the same benefits as other exercise regimens,but the risk of falling is eliminated.
Other types of exercises that can be beneficial for PDsufferers include Tai Chi, Yoga, dancing, walking, aerobic/jazzercise classes,and general stretching.
For more information on the different exercise programsavailable for Parkinsons patients, you can check out this website ;Exercise and Physical Therapy for ParkinsonsDisease
Side Effects And Problems With Levodopa
In the early days of taking levodopa, you may feel sickness or nausea. In most people this will pass as your body adjusts to the medication.
Overtime as Parkinsons progresses the levodopa dose will need to be adjusted. Many people will become more aware that symptoms sometimes return between doses of medication. This is called wearing off and is a sign your dose needs to be adjusted.
As levodopa is absorbed through the gut, constipation or other stomach problems may impact on uptake of the medication. In some people who have had Parkinsons for sometime extra involuntary movements can occur. Your neurologist will be able to help adjust medications to minimise dyskinesia.
Other side effects may include:
- Confusion
- Psychological changes
- Sleepiness, fainting or dizziness
Side effects of levodopa can sometimes be improved by changing your dose, the form of the drug or how often you take it. If this doesnt work, other types of drug may be combined with levodopa.
Speak to your GP or specialist about the right treatment for you.
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Levodopa: The Most Effective Drug For Treating Parkinsons
Levodopa, also known as L-DOPA, has long been, and continues to be, the most effective drug in treating Parkinsons disease symptoms.;Most people with Parkinsons disease will take this drug at some point. There are side effects that can occur with Levodopa including nausea, fatigue and orthostatic hypotension. Often these side effects can be successfully treated so that Levodopa can be tolerated better. In addition, as the disease progresses and the brain has less ability to produce and process dopamine, dyskinesias, or involuntary movements can develop from Levodopa.
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 .
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Medicines And Drugs Used In Parkinson Disease Treatment
Involuntary tremulous motion, with lessened muscular power, in part, not in action, and even when supported; with a propensity to bend the trunk forward and to pass from a walking to running pace, the senses and intellects being uninjured.Parkinsons disease, or Parkinsonism, is a chronic malady of the central nervous system, more common amongst the elderly, and characterized by muscle rigidity, rhythmic tremor, akinesia or immobility, loss of associated movements, and postural instability.
The presence of these signsimpairs the ability of the patient to make proper voluntary movements and to maintain posture through reflexes. The patient presents a characteristic feature of an expressionless or a mask-life face, and has tremors of the hands. It is called shaking palsy.
Causes: The real cause of this disease is not known. It is a disease of old age, but may also occur in middle age, It has a sporadic onset which is very gradual and prolonged.
It is not considered a hereditary disease, although in about 6% cases, it has been found to run in families. The disease effects. 1 in 250 persons after the age of 40 years. It is degenerative disease in which the centers of brain which normally maintain stance and movements lose functional nerve cells.
Natural Treatment For Parkinsons #3 Turmeric And Otherherbs And Spices:
A recent study published in the journal Stem Cell Research & Therapy, foundthat the extracts in turmeric, particularly curcumin and the newly discovered Ar-turmerone,can regenerate a damaged brain and reverse neurological disorders.; Researchers said Ar-turmerone is a promising candidate to supportregeneration in neurologic disease. Michigan State University researcherBasir Ahmad also found that a compound in turmeric may help fight Parkinsonsdisease by disrupting the proteins responsible for the disease.
Another study published in the Pharmacognosy Magazine found that tumeric can prevent and evenreverse the toxic effects exerted on the brain from fluoride exposure. Fluorideis a nasty and dangerous heavy metal that destroys brain cells and the intricateworkings of the central nervous system. Fluoride poisoning has also beenimplicated in the development of neurological diseases such as Alzheimers,Parkinsons, ALS and multiple sclerosis. 7
Turmeric is also a very potent anti-inflammatory spice. Because Parkinsons is aninflammation type disease, turmeric will help immensely. A heaped teaspoon ofhigh quality turmeric powder taken 3 times daily in asmoothie will do the trick. Just make sure you combine it with 10-12 blackpeppercorns for enhanced absorption Turmeric is also fat soluble so youll need tocombine it with some coconut oil, red palm oil or fish/krill oil as well.
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Treatments For Parkinsons Disease
Treatment for Parkinsons counts on a combination of:
- lifestyle changes.
- medications.
- therapies.
Sufficient rest, exercise, and a well balanced diet are important. Speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy can likewise assist improve communication and self-care.
In almost all cases, medication will be needed to help manage the numerous physical and psychological health signs connected with the disease.
What Are The Symptoms Of Parkinsons Disease
Symptoms of Parkinsons disease and the rate of decline vary widely from person to person. The most common symptoms include:
Other symptoms include:
- Speech/vocal changes: Speech may be quick, become slurred or be soft in tone. You may hesitate before speaking. The pitch of your voice may become unchanged .
- Handwriting changes: You handwriting may become smaller and more difficult to read.
- Depression and anxiety.
- Sleeping disturbances including disrupted sleep, acting out your dreams, and restless leg syndrome.
- Pain, lack of interest , fatigue, change in weight, vision changes.
- Low blood pressure.
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Treating Parkinsons With Complementary Medicine
Complementary medicine incorporates many different practices that can be used alongside conventional medicine to try to ease PD symptoms. There is typically not as much rigorous data to support the use of complementary medicine techniques, as compared to conventional medicine, but many patients find them helpful. These include yoga and massage.
What Causes Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsons comes under the dementia umbrella. Its adegenerative disease of the nervous system that causes a loss of motor skillsand intentional movement. When someone has Parkinsons, the part of the brainthat controls muscular movements and mood function doesnt receive enough ofthe crucial dopamine chemical. Without enough dopamine, bodily movements,learning abilities and mood levels are severely affected. So-called normalfunctions such as speaking, writing, swallowing, walking and sleeping become difficultto perform. These challenges, combined with a lowering of mood levels is whymany Parkinsons patients suffer with depression.
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Parkinsonism Vs Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsonism refers to a cluster of symptoms that mimic the movement problems caused by Parkinsons disease. Its sometimes referred to as atypical Parkinsons disease, secondary parkinsonism, or Parkinsons plus.
Parkinsons disease is a chronic, neurodegenerative brain disorder. In addition to problems with movement, Parkinsons disease causes non-motor symptoms that arent caused by drug-induced parkinsonism. They include:
- depression
- constipation
- anosmia
Another key difference between drug-induced parkinsonism and Parkinsons disease is symmetry. Drug-induced parkinsonism usually affects both sides of the body equally. Parkinsons disease affects one side of the body more than the other.
Parkinsonism can be caused by medications, repeated head trauma, and environmental toxins. It can also be caused by neurological disorders, including Parkinsons disease. Other neurological conditions that cause parkinsonism include:
- progressive supranuclear palsy
These medications dont cause resting tremors. Rather, they cause:
- Action tremors. These occur in a body part thats moving, not a body part thats resting.
- Postural tremors. These occur when a body part is forced to withstand gravity, such as when arms are outstretched or legs are raised.
Your Parkinson’s Drug Treatment
Dopamine is a chemical messenger made in the brain. The symptoms of Parkinsons appear when dopamine levels become too low. ; This is because many of the cells in your brain that produce dopamine have died or are dying. Taking dopamine as a drug doesnt work because it cannot cross the blood brain barrier. To get around this, doctors use other medication that can act in a similar way.
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Dealing With Side Effects Of Parkinsons Drugs
Its important to speak to your specialist or pharmacist if you notice anything unusual.
Changing or adding to your medication might help, and your specialist will be able to look into this.
For many people with advanced Parkinsons, medication may start to be reduced if side effects outweigh the benefits of taking medication.
But if some of the medication is reduced, you may find you get the benefits of the remaining ones, rather than the side effects.
If you experience side effects from your Parkinsons medication, you shouldnt stop taking it without guidance from your specialist.
Side Effects Of Levodopa:
Levodopa preparations are not without side effects. The most common include nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, involuntary movements, and, at higher doses in the elderly and frail, confusion.
- Nausea and vomiting;can be a problem as the drug is being introduced. This is because the dose of carbidopa is not large enough to control these side effects. Ironically, the nausea and vomiting often get better as the levodopa/carbidopa dose is increased. The controlled-release preparation, Sinemet CRTM, is absorbed more slowly and far less likely to cause early side effects. Taking the drug with a light meal or snack can also help these side effects.
- Involuntary movements; writhing, jerking, or free flowing movements and nodding can occur. The rate at which dopamine “turns over” in a person’s brain cells may determine whether or not they will develop; dyskinesia . Dyskinesia can only be controlled effectively by lowering the dose of levodopa or, in some severe cases, surgery.
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Other drug side effects include:
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These can usually be improved with lower, more frequent doses of the drug, the use of a controlled release drug or with the addition of a dopamine agonist.
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Natural Remedies And Treatments For Parkinsons Finalnote
So there you have our top 10 natural remedies andtreatments for reversing Parkinsons disease. We believe this is one of the most informative andthorough health articles on this disease youll find anywhere on the internet. Ifyou follow these 10 tips to-the-letter and continue to use them consistently,we guarantee that in 3-6 months time you will be truly astounded at themiraculous level of improvement youll see. In 12 months time you will scarcely;recognize yourself! . But of course, you must stickwith them and follow through with each remedy every day if you want them towork. We sincerely hope you do.
Good luck and best wishes.
P.S.;Because Parkinsons is closely linked to Alzheimers disease and actually goes under the dementia umbrella, we recommend you take the time to read our Powerful Natural Remedies for Dementia and Alzheimers article for a more complete and comprehensive understanding on the causes and treatments for these diseases. You can click on the link below to go there
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.
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Discuss The Latest Research In The Parkinsons News Today Forums
2. Carbidopa-levodopa infusion:;In 2015, the FDA approved;Duopa, which is a combination of carbidopa and levodopa;in a gel form which is administered via a feeding tube into the small intestine.
Duopa is generally given to patients with advanced Parkinsons disease whose response to carbidopa-levodopa is varied. The drug is infused continuously so the level of the drugs remains constant.
The risks associated with Duopa;are infections at the site of the feeding tube and the tube falling out.
3. Dopamine agonists:;Dopamine agonist mimic the effects of dopamine in the brain. They are generally not as effective as levodopa but the effects last longer and they can be used in conjunction with levodopa to counter any fluctuation in efficiency.
These medications can be administered through;a patch, oral;medications or as an injection. The side effects are also nausea and lightheadedness, but may also cause drowsiness, hallucinations and compulsive behaviors such as gambling, overeating, and hypersexuality which will need to be addressed by a doctor.
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4. MAO-B inhinitors:;Medications such as selegiline and rasagiline help to prevent dopamine breaking down in the brain by releasing monoamine oxidase B enzymes.
5. Catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors:;These types of medications help to prolong the effects of levodopa by blocking brain enzymes that deplete dopamine.