Table of contents:
- Medicines to treat Parkinson's disease
- Carbidopa-levodopa
- Dopamine agonist
- MAO-B inhibitors
- Catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors
- Anticholinergics
- Amantadine
- Duopa
- Inbrija
- Other possible Parkinson's disease treatment procedures
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
- Pallidotomy
- Thalamotomy
- Additional treatment
Parkinson's is not a deadly disease. However, sufferers will experience a decrease in quality of life, making it difficult to carry out daily activities. Therefore, Parkinson's sufferers need to be treated to overcome their condition. The main way to treat Parkinson's disease is through medical treatment, be it drugs or other procedures. So, what are the drugs and treatment procedures? Can Parkinson's treatment be cured?
Medicines to treat Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that causes movement limitations and impaired mobility. In the early stages, the symptoms of Parkinson's that appear are usually still mild, then they can get worse as the disease progresses.
Just like diabetes, Parkinson's is an incurable disease. However, the symptoms that appear can still be controlled so that complications can be avoided that may arise at a later date. One of the most effective ways to control Parkinson's symptoms is through drugs.
But it should be underlined, not all medicines available can work for everyone, including the side effects that may arise. Therefore, you should always consult with your doctor about taking this anti-Parkinson's drug. The doctor will determine the right type of drug according to the symptoms you feel.
Here are some drugs that doctors usually give as a way to treat Parkinson's disease:
Levodopa is the drug considered most effective for treating the main symptoms of Parkinson's disease. This drug will be absorbed by nerve cells in the brain and converted into dopamine, which is an important chemical that plays a role in the human body's movement system. By taking levodopa, you can increase the loss or decrease in dopamine levels, which can correct any movement problems you are experiencing.
The drug levodopa is often combined with carbidopa. This drug is given to prevent the conversion of levodopa to dopamine outside the brain, and reduce side effects that may arise, such as nausea, dizziness, or fatigue.
However, taking carbidova-levodopa for a long time and in high doses can cause body movements to become uncontrolled. To overcome this, the doctor will usually adjust the dose by looking at the side effects that may arise.
Unlike levodopa which replaces dopamine in the brain, a drug dopamine agonist works by mimicking the effects of the dopamine. Although it is not as effective as levodopa in treating Parkinson's symptoms, however dopamine agonist safer to consume for a long time. This medicine is sometimes given at the same time as levodopa, to allow a lower dose of levodopa to be used.
However, dopamine agonist It can also have side effects, such as fatigue or dizziness, and can cause hallucinations and confusion, especially in older patients. Therefore, although this Parkinson's drug can be found in pharmacies, its purchase and use must be in accordance with a doctor's prescription. There are several examples of drugs dopamine agonist , namely pramipexole, ropinirole, or rotigotine.
Monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitors, such as selegiline, rasagiline, and safinamide, are other alternatives to the drug levodopa to treat Parkinson's in its early stages. These drugs work by blocking the effects of enzymes monoamine oxidase-B which can break down dopamine.
This drug is also not as effective as levodopa in relieving symptoms of Parkinson's. However, MAO inhibitors are generally very well tolerated by the body, and are also often given together with levodopa or dopamine agonist to be more effective. The side effects can include headaches, nausea or stomach pain, high blood pressure, and insomnia.
The COMT inhibitor class drug, entacapone (Comtan), is usually prescribed for people with advanced Parkinson's disease. This type of drug works by prolonging the effects of levodopa by blocking the COMT enzyme that can break down dopamine.
Some of the side effects that may arise from this medicine, such as diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Other types of COMT inhibitor drugs, such as Tolcapone, are rarely prescribed by doctors because of the risk of serious liver damage and liver failure.
Anticholinergic drugs, such as benztropine or trihexyphenidyl, are often prescribed by doctors to control tremors and muscle stiffness that often occur in people with Parkinson's. However, this drug is not recommended for long-term use in elderly patients because of complications or serious side effects that may arise.
The side effects that may arise from taking anticholinergic drugs are blurred vision, memory problems, confusion, hallucinations, dry mouth, constipation or constipation, and urinary disorders.
Amantadine is usually given to people with early Parkinson's to relieve mild symptoms in the short term. However, the administration of this drug is sometimes accompanied by anticholinergics or levodopa-carbidopa at an advanced stage. Amantadine is also said to be effective in controlling the involuntary movements of the body associated with Parkinson's.
The side effects that may arise from consuming amantadine include purple spots on the skin, swelling in the ankles, difficulty concentrating or confusion, insomnia, and hallucinations.
In severe and advanced stages, Parkinson's sufferers may be given the Doupa drug. This is a levodopa-carbidopa type drug that comes in the form of a gel that is directly inserted into your small intestine through a special tube or IV.
Placement of the tube and tube to insert this drug requires a minor surgical procedure. There are risks or side effects that may arise in the presence of these tubes, namely falling tubes or infection around the infusion site or tube.
Apart from Doupa, the levodopa-carbidopa type of drug also has an inhaled form, which is called Inbrija. Reporting from the Mayo Clinic, Inbrija is the latest branded treatment that may be able to help control the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, especially if the oral medication suddenly stops working.
The types of drugs above are branded drugs that can generally be obtained by prescription from a doctor. Reporting from the Parkinson's Foundation, Parkinson's drug a generic version of levodopa-carbidopa, dopamine agonist , MAO-B inhibitors, and anticholinergics, too, are readily available, although the standards are not high enough. We recommend that you always consult with your doctor about the consumption of these drugs.
Other possible Parkinson's disease treatment procedures
Apart from drugs, another way to treat or treat Parkinson's disease is surgical procedures. Usually, this procedure is performed for Parkinson's patients who are already at an advanced stage, have severe symptoms, and do not have a stable response to medications, including levodopa.
However, the risk of surgery is higher than drugs. Therefore, the doctor will weigh the benefits of surgery that will be obtained compared to the risks that may occur. This procedure will also be determined based on the type and severity of symptoms, deterioration of the patient's quality of life, and the patient's overall health.
In addition to minor surgery to insert a tube and insert a doupa medicine directly into the intestinal area, the types of surgical procedures that are often performed for people with Parkinson's disease are deep brain stimulation (DBS).
In this procedure, surgeons will implant electrodes in specific parts of your brain. The electrodes will be connected to a generator that is placed in the chest near the collarbone. This generator then generates an electric current which is sent to the part of the brain and stimulates the area affected by Parkinson's disease.
Although it may not cure, this method can relieve symptoms of Parkinson's disease in some people, including tremors, involuntary movements (dyskinesia), stiffness, and improve slow motion. However, this treatment also does not prevent Parkinson's disease from developing.
The pallidotomy procedure is usually recommended for treating aggressive Parkinson's or patients who don't respond to medications. This surgical procedure is performed by inserting a wire probe into the globus pallidus, a very small part of the brain that also plays a role in controlling movement.
Experts argue, this part of the brain becomes hyperactive due to loss or reduction of dopamine. As with this treatment, Parkinson's symptoms, such as dyskinesia, tremors, muscle stiffness, and loss of involuntary movements can gradually decrease.
The thalamotomy procedure is generally performed to treat the symptoms of tremors in the hand or arm that Parkinson's sufferers often experience. This surgical procedure uses a current of radiofrequency energy to destroy the small part of the thalamus in the brain that causes tremors to occur.
In addition to the methods above, your doctor may give you additional medication and medication to help with non-motor symptoms that often arise. For example, if you have cognitive problems, including dementia, your doctor may prescribe medication or therapy to treat the condition. However, if you have psychological symptoms, such as depression, psychotherapy or medication for depression may be given.
In addition, therapy for Parkinson's disease, including the recommended adoption of a healthy lifestyle, may also be recommended as supportive treatment for your condition. Make sure to always consult with your doctor about any symptoms you feel and how to deal with them.
