There are basic guidelines that doctors will use to help you to treat your Parkinson’s disease. However, every person who has PD must be evaluated on an individual basis to figure out which drugs are going to work best for him or her. For some patients, the first choice drug could be a leodopa drug. For others, the initial prescription might be an agonist, an MAO inhibitor, or perhaps an anticholinergic.
Which drug is best for you is going to depend on many factors, such as how the disease presents itself, any other health issues you have, and how old you are.
The most common treatment drugs for Parkinson’s disease are:
- Carbidopa and levodopa
- Dopamine agonists
- Anticholinergics
- MAO B inhibitors
- COMT inhibitors
By far, the most popular drugs for this disease are the drugs carbidopa and levodopa. Their development in the 1960s was a serious breakthrough in medical history. Note that levodopa alone causes you to vomit a great deal. That is why it is now given with carbidopa. This combined formula is known on the market as Sinemet.
There are all kinds of strengths and preparations of carbidopa/levodopa. Some of these include a long acting form that will dissolve in your mouth with no water. This is called Parcopa. There also is a combined formulation available that also includes a COMT inhibitor; this is known as Stalevo.
It is really important that anyone with Parkinson’s disease known exactly which levodopa drug you are taking. There are so many sizes of pills, manufacturers and different strengths of the drugs. You should use caution when you are dealing with any prescription at the pharmacy; the accidental substitute of a different drug combination could give you an overdose or underdose.
Carbidopa and leveodopa are the most effective means to treat the disease. The carbidopa addition means that leveodopa is prevented from being made into dopamine in your blood, which lets more of it get into your brain where it needs to be.
While levodopa has some good effects on limiting the symptoms of Parkinson’s, there are a number of side effects with the drug, including:
- Dyskinesia, or involuntary movements
- On and off periods when the medication will start or stop working
Try These Parkinson’s Supplies to Manage Your Drug Regimen
There are many effective medication reminders available so that you can be sure to be taking your needed medications on time:
- Vibrating Alarm Medication Reminder: This is a handy, compact pocket pill dispenser helps you to easily organize all of your pills. It will remind you with an audio or vibrating alarm four times each day.
- Pill Turtle XL Medication Organizer: This product has a reminder alarm that will tell you to take your pills on time. It has seven big compartments that have raised letters and Braille markings.
- Med-E-Lert Electronic Medication Reminder: This is both a medication reminder and an automated pill dispenser. It has a very secure, tamper proof locking key mechanism that ensure that you will not be over medicated.
