The most common treatment for Parkinson's disease is the use of medications. The goal of therapy is to provide the brain chemical (neurotransmitter), dopamine, in adequate amounts so as to prevent the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. An antiparkinson drug is usually started when symptoms become disabling or disrupt a person's daily activities.
There are specific instructions in taking the drugs for Parkinson's disease. It is important to follow your doctor's prescriptions about how and when to take your drugs so that they will be effective and safe. You cannot increase, decrease or change the drug without your doctor's knowledge because it may cause more problems in the control of symptoms.
Therapy depends on a person's symptoms and age and how the person responds to a certain drug. Medications often improve symptoms, but they also may cause side effects. It may take awhile to find the best combination of drugs for each particular individual.
Several drugs may be used to treat Parkinson's disease at different stages of the disease.The treatment of early Parkinson's starts with one or more of these medicines, which are commercially available in the Philippines:
Levodopa and carbidopa
Dopamine agonists (pramipexole, bromocriptine mesylate, piribedil)
COMT inhibitors (entacapone)
MAO-B inhibitors (selegiline)
Amantadine Anticholinergic agents (biperiden Hcl)
Levodopa is thought to be the most effective drug for controlling symptoms of Parkinson's disease and for many years was the preferred drug for treating newly diagnosed patients. However, long-term use of levodopa at high dosages often leads to motor complications that can be difficult to manage. The decision about whether it is better to use levodopa or other antiparkinson drug like a dopamine agonist as the first treatment has not been fully resolved. The decision on the drug of choice will most likely be different for each person. It is imperative to consult your doctor to find the medicines that work the best for you.
LEVODOPA/CARBIDOPA
(SINEMET) MSD/INVIDA [ZUELLIG] {P 49.00}
(TIDOMET/TIDOMET CR) TORRENT [METRO DRUG] {P 49.75}
LEGEND:
(BRAND NAME) MANUFACTURER [DISTRIBUTOR] {SRP: levodopa 100mg/carbidopa 25 mg TAB}
PREPARATION/CONTENTS per tablet:
Levodopa 100 mg/carbidopa 25 mg
Levodopa 250 mg/carbidopa 25 mg
Levodopa 200 mg/carbidopa 50 mg(CR) or Controlled Release
INDICATIONS:
Treatment of symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson's disease(paralysis agitans)
Treatment of symptoms of postencephalitic parkinsonism, which follows injury to nervous system by carbon monoxide and manganese intoxication
Patients who are taking vitamin preparations containing vit. B6
Reduce "offtime" in patients previously treated with levodopa/ decarboxylase inhibitor preparations
DOSAGE:
FOR SINEMET: Sinemet 25/100 1 tab TID. Maximum: 8 tabs Sinemet 25/250 1/2 tab once-BID. Maximum: 8 tabs Transfer from levodopa: Stop levodopa 12 hr before Sinemet is started (24 hr for CR preparation) Patient taking > 1,500 mg levodopa: Initially 1 tab Sinemet TID-QID Patient taking < 1,500 mg levodopa: Initially 1 tab Sinemet 25/100 TID-QID. Sinemet CR 1 CR tab BID-TID, maximum dose 600 mg/day of levodopa or to be given at intervals < 6 hrs.
FOR TIDOMET: Individualized dosage
ADMINISTRATION OF ORAL DOSAGE/PRE- & POST-PRANDIAL ADVICE: Take on an empty stomach if possible. If GI distress occurs, take with food. CT tab: Swallow whole, do not chew/crush. 50/200 CR tab may be halved along the score-line only.
CONTRAINDICATIONS:
Narrow-angle glaucoma
Undiagnosed skin lesions or history of melanoma
Hypersensitivity to any component of this product
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS:
Treatment of drug-induced extrapyramidal reactions.
Monitor for melanomas frequently and on a regular basis.
Perform periodic skin exam.
Patients previously treated with levodopa alone.
CV disease including history of MI or arrhythmias or pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma, renal, hepatic or endocrine disease, history of psychoses or convulsions, or wide-angle glaucoma.
History of active peptic ulcer.
Absorption of L-dopa may be impaired in some patients on a high protein diet.
Not recommended for children < 18 yrs. Pregnancy, lactation.
ADVERSE REACTIONS:
SINEMET: Dyskinesia including choreiform, dystonic and other involuntary movements and nausea. Pathological gambling, hypersexuality and increased libido. Very rarely, excessive daytime somnolence and sudden sleep onset episodes, paresthesia, psychotic episodes. Muscle twitching and blepharospasm. Syncope, chest pain, anorexua, CV, GI, hematologic, hypersensitivity, nervous/psychiatric, resp., dermatological and urogenital effects.
TIDOMET Choreiform, dystonia, involuntary movements, mental changes, depression w/ or w/o development of suicidal tendencies and dementia. Nausea, orthostatic hypotension, brsadykinetic episodes, anorexia, vomiting and dizziness. DRUG INTERACTIONS: Discontinue MAOIs 2 weeks prior to therapy with Sinemet(except low doses of selective MAO-B inhibitors), tricyclic antidepressants, antihypertensives, phenothiazines, butyrophenones, phenytoin, papavarine, INH.
REFERENCES:
1. http://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/guide/parkinsons-disease-medications
2. MIMS.com
My symptoms started at the age of 47. My fingers on my left hand were stiff and were difficult to move. People noticed that my walk was not normal. I was often asked did I hurt. I noticed nothing different about my walk. It was difficult getting up from` a chair and getting out of a car. I was diagnosed a year later ,it was the onset of tremors starting in my right hand that caused my other symptoms to be recognized as Parkinson's.. I am now 59. With the new herbal medicine i purchase from totalcureherbsfoundation.com was my only way to get rid of my PD,the herbal formula effectively reverse my condition and alleviate all symptoms.
ReplyDeleteI am a 51 year old female that just found out I have Parkinson's about a year and half, but I have been having signs of it for years, tremors, depression, body weakness. ECT. I honestly don't think my doctor was reading the signs because of my gender and age. A few years ago I had my shoulder lock up on me and I was sent to a P.T since x-rays didn't show any physical damage. My shaking was getting worse and I began falling. Only when my speech became so bad that it brought concern to my dentist was Parkinson's even considered. He phoned my doctor with his concerns about my shaking and balance problems. By this time I was forgoing shots in the back of my neck for back and neck pain to which once again I was sent to a P.T (although x-rays showed no damage) I was told I had a few spurs which were most likely causing the pain. Here I was feeling like my whole body was falling apart and doctor could not find anything wrong, maybe in was all in my head? My doctor even seemed annoyed with me and things just kept progressing and I just kept it to myself, why bother going through testing and them finding nothing? Well, it was after my second P.T called my doctor about the weakness in my legs and arms, by this time I have developed a gait in my walk and I fell more frequently. Only then did my doctor send me to a specialist and it was found that I had Parkinson's, and that I have had it for awhile. I think because I was a woman that my signs and symptoms weren't taken seriously and therefor left untreated for so long,I was taking pramipexole dihydrochloride three times daily, I Was on carbidopa levodopa but only lasted 90 minutes then wore off.I found that none of the current medications worked effective for me.I got tired of using those medication so I decided to apply natural herbs formula that was prescribed to me by my second P.T, i purchase the herbal formula from totalcureherbsfoundation. com, There has been huge progression ever since I start the treatment plan which will last for 15 weeks usage.all the symptoms and sign has begin to disappear .
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