What Medications Treat Parkinson Disease

Symptoms And Warning Signs

Symptoms of Parkinsons fall into two major categories: those related to motor functions, and those related to changes in someones mood. The four most common signs and symptoms of Parkinsons disease include:

• Trembling: This usually presents itself in the arms, jaw, legs and face.
• Rigidity: Most patients experience stiffness of the bodys core as well as their arms and legs.
• Bradykinesia: This is the term for slowness of movement. Some patients pause or freeze when moving without being able to start again, and others begin to shuffle when trying to walk.
• Postural instability : This results in loss of strength, loss of balance and problems with moving muscles or coordinating body parts.

Other symptoms that can also occur, which often impact someones moods and other behaviors, include:

• Sexual dysfunction

Naturalremedy For Parkinsons #7 Omega

Animal based omega-3 fatty acids are a powerful weapon inthe fight against Parkinsons disease. One of the main fatty acids, DHA, is oneof the essential building blocks for the human brain. Half of your brain andeyes are made up of fat and a large proportion of this is DHA fat.

Omega-3 fatty acids have the unique ability to cross theblood-brain barrier, something most conventional drugs cannot do. They helpincrease dopamine levels and reduce neuroinflammation in the brain, while atthe same time, stimulating neuron growth. So basically, EPA and DHA help preventbrain cell damage and keep the nervous system in tip top working order! 4

Best sources of animal based omega-3s are either fishoil, cod liver oil or krill oil. High strength krill oil is the preferred option as thiscontains a substance called Astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is a potent brain food nutrientthat has been shown to prevent neurodegeneration and inflammation of the brain.For dosages, take AT LEAST the highest recommended amount listed on the bottle the same goes with fish oil or cod liver oil. You cant overdose on thesesupplements so theres nothing to be concerned about. In fact, the more omega-3syou can get into you the better the results!

In addition to this, try and eat some cold water fattyfish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines or herring 3-4 times a week foran extra supply of DHA and EPA.

What Are Parkinsons Hallucinations

Symptoms of psychosis occur in up to 50% of people with Parkinsons disease.

Parkinsons disease psychosis is considered a neuropsychiatric condition. This means it involves neurology and psychiatry . While the psychosis involves mental health symptoms, they are caused by Parkinsons disease, which is a disease of the nervous system.

Psychosis in Parkinsons disease comes in two forms:

• Hallucinations: Sensory experiences that are not really happening
• Delusions: False beliefs not based on reality

These symptoms can be debilitating and scary for the people experiencing them. They can interfere with a persons ability to care for themselves and to relate to other people.

Psychotic symptoms in Parkinsons disease are associated with increased caregiver distress, risk of hospitalization and nursing home placement, and healthcare costs.

A study suggests the presence of hallucinations and delusions in people with Parkinsons disease is a predictor of mortality .

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Speech And Occupational Therapy

Parkinsons disease can lead to slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. A speech and language therapist can provide muscle training techniques that may help overcome some of these problems.

An occupational therapist can help identify everyday tasks that can be challenging and work with the person to find practical solutions.

This may include new strategies for dressing, preparing meals, performing household chores, and shopping. Adaptations to the home environment can also make daily living easier.

For people with Parkinsons disease, deep brain stimulation may help manage:

• tremor

• an electrode inside the part of the brain that controls movement
• a pacemaker-like device, or neurostimulator, under the skin in the upper chest
• a wire under the skin connecting the neurostimulator to the electrode

The neurostimulator sends electrical impulses along the wire and into the brain via the electrode. These impulses can prevent symptoms by interfering with the electrical signals that cause them.

There is a small risk of brain hemorrhage, infection, and headaches. Some people may see no improvement, or their symptoms may worsen. There may also be discomfort during stimulation.

Nevertheless, the AAN considers this treatment safe and effective for specific people and say any adverse effects are usually mild and reversible. Anyone considering this treatment should discuss the pros and cons with a healthcare professional.

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

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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.

Treatment Of Neurobehavioral Features

Treatment of cognitive deficits associated with PD is as challenging as the treatment of Alzheimers disease and other dementias. While the general assumption has been that cognitive deficits are a feature of late-stage PD, clinically inapparent cognitive changes on neuropsychiatric testing may be found . With the introduction of cholinesterase inhibitors such as donepezil , rivastigmine , and galantamine and the NDMA antagonist memantine , it is possible that cognition, orientation and language function will improve, and that such improvement will lead to a meaningful improvement in function. Both donepezil and rivastigmine improve cognition to the same effect, but donepezil is better tolerated . The largest and best-designed study of rivastigmine in dementia associated with PD involved 541 patients enrolled in a 24-week randomized, multicenter, double-blind clinical trial . The patients had a relatively mild dementia , with onset of dementia about 2 years after onset of PD symptoms. The mean ADAS-cog score, the primary efficacy variable, improved by 2.1 points in the rivastigmine group, compared to 0.7 in the placebo group , and the MMSE improved by 0.8 in the rivastigmine group and worsened by 0.2 in the placebo group . At the end of the study, 55.5% were receiving 9 to 12 mg. The adverse effects that were significantly more frequent in the rivastigmine group were nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and tremor.

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Types Of Parkinsons Disease Medications

Dopamine agonists work on the same brain cell receptors as dopamine. Imagine the dopamine receptor as the lock and dopamine as the key. Dopamine agonists are like a different key for the same lock. Dopamine agonists have a lower risk of motor complications than levodopa but a higher risk of sleepiness, impulse control disorders and swelling in the legs, and are less effective than levodopa.

Mirapex is the brand name for pramipexole

Requip is the brand name for ropinirole

Neupro patch is the only transdermal Parkinsons medication. This can be useful for patients who are unable to swallow.

Kynmobi is a rescue medication for off time, which kicks in very quickly but doesnt last very long. It is a film that gets placed under the tongue. Because nausea is very common, an anti-nausea medication needs to be given for 3 days prior to the initiation of the Kynmobi.

MAO-B inhibitors reduce metabolism of dopamine, thereby boosting the amount of dopamine in the brain. Azilect and Xadago are a once-a-day medications Eldepryl is taken twice a day. Effectiveness for motor symptoms is milder. Side effects include high blood pressure, insomnia and abdominal pain. They can be used by themselves or with levodopa. MAO-B inhibitors can interact with dextromethorphan, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and over-the-counter serotonin boosting medications.

Comtan taken with each dose

Stalevo .

Ongentys taken once a day

Immediate release amantadine, taken twice or thrice a day

What Are Parkinsons Disease

Delusions are false beliefs that are not based on reality. These beliefs are fixed. People experiencing them are unlikely to change or abandon these beliefs, even when presented with evidence that they are false.

Delusions experienced by people with Parkinsons disease are usually of a common theme. These may include:

• Spousal infidelity
• Thinking that people are stealing their belongings
• Thinking people are trying to harm them
• Thinking people may put poison in their food
• Thinking people are switching out or substituting their medications
• Other beliefs based on paranoia

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Cbd Reduces And Improves Motor Functions In Rats And Reduces Brain Inflammation

In the study, researchers used a chemical to surgically introduce progressive brain damage in rats mirroring Parkinsons disease.

Researchers found that the surgery caused a 70% loss of important dopamine-producing neurons in the brain after 28 days. Loss of these neurons will mean a reduction in the amount of dopamine produced a similar loss in dopamine is seen in most Parkinsons patients.

However, animals treated with CBD daily for the 28 days after the surgery lost 21% fewer neurons, demonstrating that CBD can actively protect the brain against damage.

This protective effect of CBD also led to improved motor skills in the animals.

Rats after the surgery typically prefer to use their forepaw controlled by the healthier side of the brain, rather than the damaged or parkinsonized side which is harder for the animal to control.

However, the researchers found that the animals treated with CBD showed less of a preference, suggesting that the CBD may have helped them retain more control over their movements.

When the research team looked to see how CBD affected brain inflammation a major cause of Parkinsons disease they found that CBD treatment raised the levels of several protective proteins including TRPV1 and CNTF.

These two proteins have been shown in past studies to reduce inflammation and boost the survival of essential dopamine-producing neurons.

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Home Remedyfor Parkinsons #8 Green Tea:

Green tea contains theanine, a nutrient that increasesdopamine levels in the brain, and polyphenol antioxidants that help fight free radicals. Three separate studies all found that regularlydrinking tea can either delay or prevent the development of PD. A retrospectivestudy also found that drinking three or more cups of tea a day can delay the onsetof motor symptoms. And a 2007 study found that green tea polyphenols protect braincells and dopamine neurons, and this positive effect increases with the moregreen tea consumed. 10

The minimum amount that should be drank every day is 3cups, with 6-9 cups a day being the ideal.Matcha green tea is the most potent and beneficial so try and purchase this ifyou can. A strong cup of coffee first thing in the morning is thought tobe effective for reducing the symptoms of Parkinsons disease as well, however,we recommend you stick with green tea, or even a strong cup of black tea ifyou can for the theanine and EGCGs.

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Finding The Right Medication

Finding the right medication to treat your Parkinson’s symptoms is a process that takes time and effort from you and your doctor. Parkinson’s medications work in different ways. Many are pills that you swallow, but some can be given through skin patches or intestinal infusions. It can sometimes feel like “trial and error” to figure out the best medication, dose and schedule to treat your symptoms. Over time, as symptoms progress or complications arise, your doctor may adjust your medications. This might mean changing your dose or how often you take a drug, or adding or switching medications. Staying in tune with your symptoms and which are most bothersome, and keeping track of how well medication is or is not working can help direct adjustments to your treatment regimen.

Here we describe the different categories of Parkinson’s medications how they work, their potential benefits and common side effects. We also give examples and highlight therapies that have been approved in the last few years with an asterisk.

Causes Of Parkinson’s Disease

The causes of Parkinsons disease are still greatly unknown. Scientists who have studied this disorder estimate that 10-15% of cases come from genetics after seeing a series of genetic mutations that were common in Parkinsons patients.

Doctors suspect that environmental factors and lifestyle choices may have effects on the severity of Parkinsons disease symptoms. Exposure to chemicals like pesticides may increase the likelihood of developing Parkinsons disease. On the other hand, a good diet and regular exercise may decrease your chances.

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An Approach To The Treatment Of Parkinson’s Disease

No treatment can arrest or slow neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease. The aim is to relieve symptoms and avoid the complications of therapy.

Early Parkinson’s disease

Many studies have shown that early treatment with dopamine agonists reduces the incidence of dyskinesia.1Fewer motor fluctuations were shown in some but not all of the studies. We recommend a dopamine agonist as the first treatment in younger patients who have mild disease and no cognitive deficit. It is necessary to add levodopa within 1-5 years in most patients. In more severe disease, treatment begins with levodopa but a dopamine agonist may be added to keep the daily dose of levodopa in the lower range if there is no cognitive deficit. Dopamine agonists are used infrequently and with caution in patients more than 70 years old because of the risk of neuropsychiatric adverse effects and postural hypotension. They are contraindicated in the presence of dementia.

Isolated resting tremor is rarely disabling, but if it interferes with function it can usually be managed with levodopa. When this is ineffective at low to moderate doses, the addition of an anticholinergic can sometimes be useful.

Patients with motor fluctuations

Role of physical therapy and surgery

What Should I Know About Parkinsons Disease And Medications

There have been rapid and remarkable changes over the past decade in treating Parkinsons disease . The development of new medicines and the understanding of how best to use them and the older drugs have significantly improved the quality of life for people with the disease.

There is currently no treatment that has been proven to affect the disease progression or development of medication that can slow the disease process. There are two general approaches to the treatment of PD improve the symptoms with medications and engage in physical therapy. Most patients with PD can be adequately treated with medicines that alleviate their symptoms. For the approximately 15% of patients for whom medicines are not sufficiently effective, new, highly effective, and safe surgical treatments are available.

Choices about medicines made early in the course of the disease have a strong impact on the long-term course of the illness. Therefore, you should seek the advice of doctors specially trained in treating PD even when the illness is only suspected. Movement disorders specialists are neurologists who have completed their training in neurology and have received special advanced training in treating PD and other related diseases.

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Naturalremedy For Parkinsons #10 Foods You Must Avoid

There are certain foods that are known to worsen thesymptoms of Parkinsons and certain foods that are known to help. Healthadvocate, Dr Joseph Mercola, says that Parkinsons disease is primarily relatedto poor lifestyle choices, particularly poor dietary habits. Increasing yourbodys natural dopamine levels is also extremely important in your fight againstPD.

The foods and liquids you should be eating and drinkingmore of to help you along include:

· Clean Filtered Water Clean filtered water helpsto flush toxins from the body and hydrate the cells .Try and aim to drink at least two liters of water every day, and under nocircumstances drink tap water! Tap water is laced with toxic fluoride and otherchemicals and heavy metals so NEVER drink it. Buy yourself a good quality waterfilter. Its worth the investment.

· Whole Foods and Raw Foods Eat plenty oforganic mixed berries, green leafy vegetables, liver , fish,eggs, nuts and seeds such as chia and flaxseeds, along with plenty of herbs andspices. When it comes to buying any of these remember fresh is alwaysbest.

· Consume Lots of Probiotics Good gutbacteria are needed for strong immunity and healthy digestive function, whichin turn produces healthy brain and nerve function. You can learn how to makeyour own probiotic rich foods such as kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha and yogurt hereCultures for Health.

The foods you should be avoiding or not eating at allinclude:

Medical Treatment Of Parkinsons Disease

Enormous progress has been made in the treatment of Parkinsons disease over the past half century, but levodopa remains the most potent drug for controlling PD symptoms . Prior to instituting medical therapy, a correct diagnosis of PD must be established and the level of impairment determined . Each patients therapy is to be individualized, and diverse drugs other than levodopa are presently available. Among these are the dopamine agonists , catechol-o-methyl-transferase inhibitors and nondopaminergic agents . Head-to-head comparisons of drugs within classes are rare, and the differences that have emerged are related to the effects on motor fluctuations, dyskinesias, on/off times and adverse effects of the specific agents within each class .

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