Parkinson’s disease : signs, symptoms and treatment
Article by qwert parker
Parkinson’s disease is commonly seen among elderly individuals 50 years. The disease just isn’t gender-specific and may affect both men and women; however, it really is more widespread in men. The most common signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are difficulty in moving, tremors and problem while speaking and eating. Hands, arms and legs tremble involuntarily in addition to face and jaw muscles. This is mainly as a result of lack of neurotransmitter, dopamine or its malfunctioning. Dopamine is vital to regulate muscle movement from the body by sending signals at nerve ends. When the disease remains untreated, it might result in permanent disability and loss of nervous system and eventually death.
This is a disorder of motor system where brain cells (neurons) degenerate particularly those which produce dopamine. Along with dopamine inducers, for your treating Parkinson’s disease, there might be a need of other drugs for example antidepressants and Gabapentin to treat pain. Medications utilized to treat this disease could cause severe negative effects including hallucinations, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and disorientation, involuntary movement of limbs, swift changes in moods and confusion. Management of this disease includes medicines, speech therapy, occupational therapy, exercise and physical rehabilitation.
There could be a need of surgical treatment that requires deep brain stimulation. Six main medicines for that treatment of Parkinson’s disease are Levodopa, dopamine agonists, MAO and COMT inhibitors, Amantadine and anticholinergic drugs. Estrogen could be given to women with Parkinson’s disease after menopause. Levodopa is the drug associated with preference to deal with Akinesia (difficulty in moving). In addition, it controls muscle rigidity and tremors to some degree by having an exception of controlling coordination and standing posture. Initial dose of Levodopa is 250mg to 500mg twice daily together with meals in order to avoid major side-effect which is nausea. The dose may gradually be increased with regards to the tolerance of the patient. Concomitant usage of levodopa with MAO inhibitors (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) is not recommended.
The reason for the degeneration of neurons that produce dopamine is not known. Depression is commonly observed in an individual with Parkinson’s disease and the recommended antidepressants for the treatment of depression associated with this disease are SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). There might be sleep problems during daytime making the patient drowsy in day and insomnia during night sleeps. As opposed to taking tranquilizers, it is better to improve sleeping habit using stimulants during daytime for example caffeine. Another problem called dementia may also be seen in patients with Parkinson’s disease, when a person cannot memorize or think straight. To treat dementia, choline esterase inhibitors are prescribed e.g. Rivastigmine and Donepezil. In the event of hallucinations or psychosis, the dose of medicines needs to be reduced so that you can improve these symptoms. When the dose adjustment doesn’t work well to deal with psychosis, certain antipsychotic drugs in low doses enable you to treat this disease e.g. Clozapine and Quetiapine.
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There may be a need of surgical procedure that involves deep brain stimulation. Six main medicines for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease are Levodopa, dopamine agonists, MAO and COMT inhibitors, Amantadine and anticholinergic drugs Parkinson’s disease.