Parkinson’s disease can be defined as a disease in which nerve cells in the brain become dead. It is a chronic, degenerative neurological disorder that affects more than five million people worldwide. According to a latest study, it has been found that one in 100 people over the age of 60 suffer from this debilitating and progressive disease. While there are numerous Parkinson’s disease treatments available, there is no single optimal treatment due to the fact that this condition affects each individual differently. The symptoms can only be brought under control using a combination of therapies including medication, adjunct therapies, and surgery.
Drugs
The most prominent treatment option is the use of drugs to treat PD. These drugs increase the level of dopamine that reaches the brain, improve the parts of the brain where dopamine works, or restrict the effect of other chemicals that affect dopamine, such as acetylcholine.
As this disease affects each individual differently, drug treatment varies from person to person both in terms of dosage, the form of the medication, and the times the drugs are taken. An optimal combination of drugs is meant to bring significant change in the condition of patients and aims at providing a most workable symptom control. It is important to give your full support to your doctor to determine the right combination of medications to effectively manage your symptoms.
Levodopa Therapy
Levodopa is considered to be one of the most effective Parkinson’s disease treatments available today. It is meant to provide relief from the main symptoms of the condition and considerably enhances the life of people with Parkinson’s disease. It works by enabling motor function, mobility and participation in daily activities.
Dopamine Agonists
Dopamine Agonists stimulate the dopamine receptors rather than replacing dopamine. Due to their extreme similarity to dopamine, they mimic the action of the chemical rather than replace inadequate supply. The drugs are generally started at a low dose and are increased slowly to emit any possible side effects. Dopamine agonists are found to work best when taken with meals.
Adjunct Therapy
Adjunct therapy plays a vital role in the management and rehabilitation and most commonly used when motor fluctuations occur in a patient treated with levodopa. Some clinicians also use adjunctive treatment to keep the levodopa dosage low, in order to delay the onset of motor fluctuations, but there are no evidenced-based guidelines to support this practice.
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