Anti-Parkinson drugs

Parkinson’s disease is one of the neurologic conditions. It affects the way your movements in a significant manner. It is attributed to damage of certain cells of your brain that make a substance called dopamine. It is usually managed by dopamine replacement therapy. However, Parkinson’s disease shows up through a several symptoms. Hence, there is no single drug that help treat this progressive neuro disorder. So, do you know the most widely used anti-Parkinson drugs? It pays to know what these drugs are.

Parkinson’s disease is a condition which makes your brain lose control of the body’s movements. The onset of this neurologic problem is often very gradual. It is often very difficult to notice its incidence. However, you tend to witness some distinctive changes as time goes by. You may observe mild spells of tremors or involuntary shaking of your body.

As the years roll by, you are likely to have troubles walking or talking. People with Parkinson’s disease may also report sleeping difficulties as well as cognitive problems. You may need combinatorial approaches to treat these symptoms.

Anti-Parkinson drugs

It is always helpful to know about the most widely administered Anti-Parkinson drugs caregivers often prescribe. Knowledge about drugs like MOA – B inhibiting meds, carbidopa–levodopa, dopamine agonists, etc. can be useful.

1- MAO – B inhibiting meds – There are enzymes in your brain that break dopamine down. One such enzyme is Monoamine Oxidase Type – B (in short, MOA – B). Drugs of this genre inhibit this enzyme from working on dopamine. In this process, your brain gains access to more amount of dopamine. Users often observe a marked improvement in motor function and coordination.

MAO – B inhibiting drugs may however take some time to show positive outcomes. You may need to wait for a few weeks before seeing needful results. These are not administered as primary line of treatment for Parkinson’s disease. It is often used in combination or as an adjunctive drug with a few other anti-Parkinson drugs.

2 – Carbidopa – levodopa – This drug efficiently crosses the brain-blood barrier. It eventually gets converted into dopamine in the cerebral system. Upon being converted into a brain transmitter chemical i.e., dopamine, your body gets a new supply of this brain chemical. This supply benefits those who have low level of dopamine due to incidence of Parkinson’s disease.

Carbidopa is taken along with levodopa. The former is known to enhance the efficacy level of levodopa. When administered with carbidopa, you may require lesser dosage of levodopa. As you read this, carbidopa – levodopa is considered as a primary line of treatment to manage Parkinson’s disease. The good thing is this combination is sold as a controlled-release or an extended release.

3- Dopamine agonists – These drugs compensate the loss of dopamine in those living with Parkinson’s disease. Though the active chemicals do not convert themselves into dopamine, the end result these meds produce is almost the same. Dopamine agonists are known to improve your motor function. However, these do not work as efficiently as other anti-Parkinson drugs like say, levodopa.

Dopamine agonists are offered during the early stages of the onset of neuro conditions like Parkinson’s disease. Often, caregivers provide these agonists with the primary drugs like carbidopa–levodopa as the condition worsens. These combinations are known to reduce involuntary shaking of your body as well as stiffness of muscles.

The list of anti-Parkinson drugs has a few more meds. It includes drugs like catechol – O – methyl transferase (COMT) inhibiting drugs. These meds prevent enzymes like COMT from breaking down levodopa. Others in this list: amantadine, anticholinergic agents, adenosine A2a antagonists, etc.

As there is no cure to Parkinson’s disease, intake of one or more of these aforesaid meds is important for effective case management. You are advised to talk to a qualified caregiver and take needful prescriptions of anti-Parkinson drugs and start your treatment plan in accordance to instructions offered.

Disclaimer

Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.