Parkinson’s Disease Medications: Types of Common Drug …

There have been rapid and remarkable changes over the recent past in treating Parkinson's disease. The development of new drugs and an understanding of how best to use them and the older drugs have significantly improved the quality of life of people with the disease.

There are two general approaches to the treatment of Parkinson's disease with medication. The first approach attempts to slow the loss of dopamine in the brain and the second approach attempts to improve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease by other means.

Parkinsons Disease: Driving a Car

Parkinsons disease is a type of movement disorder that can significantly impair driving skills, cause safety concerns, and force many people with the condition to stop driving a car. Thats because the primary symptoms of Parkinsons disease can seriously interfere with the complex task of driving a car. These symptoms are: Tremor -- trembling in the hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head Rigidity -- stiffness of the limbs and trunk Bradykinesia -- slowness of movement Postural instability...

Read the Parkinsons Disease: Driving a Car article > >

Most patients with Parkinson's disease can be adequately treated with drugs that alleviate their symptoms. If medications are not sufficiently effective, new, highly effective and safe surgical treatments are also available.

Choices about medications 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 Parkinson's disease (called movement disorders specialists) even when the illness is only suspected. Movement disorders specialists are doctors who have completed their training in neurology (brain and nerve problems) and have received special advanced training in treating Parkinson's disease and other related diseases.

Levodopa (also called L-dopa) is the most commonly prescribed and most effective drug for controlling the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, particularly bradykinesia and rigidity.

Levodopa is transported to the nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine. It is then converted into dopamine for the nerve cells to use as a neurotransmitter.

Sinemet is made up of levodopa and another drug called carbidopa. Levodopa enters the brain and is converted to dopamine while carbidopa increases its effectiveness and prevents or lessens many of the side effects of levodopa, such as nausea, vomiting, and occasional heart rhythm disturbances. It is generally recommended that patients take Sinemet on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before, or one hour after meals.

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