what is the best treatment for Parkinson’s Disease?

12 Comments

1. Jeniv the Brit says:

   January 9, 2010 at 7:38 am

   No known treatment can stop or reverse the breakdown of nerve cells that causes Parkinson’s disease. However, drugs can relieve many symptoms of the disease. Surgery also can be effective in a small number of people to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

   Treatment is different for every person, and the type of treatment you will need may change as the disease progresses. Your age, work status, family, and living situation can all affect decisions about when to begin treatment, what types of treatment to use, and when to make changes in treatment. As your medical condition changes, you may need regular adjustments in your treatment to balance quality-of-life issues, side effects of treatment, and treatment costs.
2. Lily says:

   January 9, 2010 at 7:38 am

   i heard coffee is good
   actually, that’s just to prevent parkinsons

   you should go consult a doctor
3. scoutma53 says:

   January 9, 2010 at 7:38 am

   There are several including surgery. Google Parkinsons Disease.
4. versantly says:

   January 9, 2010 at 7:38 am

   follow up with your neurologist for options.
5. mollyflan says:

   January 9, 2010 at 7:38 am

   From what I’ve read there isn’t a "best" treatment for Parkinson’s Disease because the symptoms vary and there’s no cure for the disease. However, there are standard treatments that help most patients.

   Go to the following website:

   http://www.parkinson.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=227
6. sutra says:

   January 9, 2010 at 7:38 am

   The best initial treatments are drugs, carbidopa-levadopa and dopamine agonists. When they are no longer working well enough, ask your neurologist about Deep Brain Stimulation. And check out "Patients Like Me" a site for people with Parkinson’s where they discuss what has helped them. There is no cure or anything that even slows the progression of the disease but 16 years after his diagnosis the surgery has given my husband the ability to move again.
7. Mags says:

   January 9, 2010 at 7:38 am

   The best treatment for Parkinson’s disease depends upon many things.

   Parkinson’s, an idiopathic disease, with the cause(s) in each patient usually unknown or unclear has a variety of options open at the earliest diagnosed stages of the disease. The common denominator it the death of the dopamine producing cells in the brain. Since 60% of these cells have died by the time the disease manifests to the diagnostic stage, the disease is firmly in place.

   The symptoms range include tremor, balance problems, slow gait, shuffling gait, motion freezing, sleeping problems, incontinence, constipation, swallowing problems, impotence, vision problems (not easily corrected in PD) olfactory deficit (sense of smell) loss of sense of taste, loss of cognitive functions, depression and so on. That’s a lot of symptoms to deal with.

   Unlike many diseases, PD treatment decisions should not be left to the neurologist alone. Parkinson’s patients need to be very interactive in their treatment.

   The courses of treatment depend upon the particular symptoms, what is felt to be important to address, the age of the patient, the health coverage, the income of the patient, drug interactions and side effects.

   Everyone hears about the levadopa meds which attempt to replace the dopamine depletion in the brain but some patients find that while these do treat many symptoms, they can turn suddenly cease to work and the symptoms return with a vengeance.

   The dopamine agonists can work wonders with symptoms but have some horrific side effects such as severe hallucinations such as seeing people and animals who aren’t there; compulsive behavior such as gambling, severely increased libido, total personality changes. While a doctor may see wonderful physical changes, the lives of the patient and the family can be upset to the point where the caretakers may want to walk out the door as the bank account has dropped to nothing and debts are rising.

   There are MAO-B inhibitors which break down the enzyme which metabolizes dopamine in the brain such as Azilect which can work very well for some patients but can interact with other medications.

   COMT inhibitors which are combined with levadopa drugs to prolong the utility.

   Very good info can find at the Mayo Clinic site and the Cleveland Clinic site:

   http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/parkinsons-disease/DS00295/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

   http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/parkinsons_disease/hic_parkinsons_disease_treatment.aspx

   http://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/understanding-parkinsons-disease-treatment

   You have probably heard about deep brain stimulation and what a wonder it is. There are also side effects to DBS as well.

   Some things that should not be overlooked are a diets with lower fat content. Some of those meds can be hard on the liver.

   Supplements such as the antioxidants: CoQ10 1200 mg per day; glutathione, turmeric (with NAC) and milk thistle are very important. CoQ10 is finally being recommended by physicians.

   Exercise is very important to avoid losing too much muscle tone and strength which can happen with the depression which can accompany PD and often precedes the diagnostic symptoms - as does the loss of the sense of smell.

   There are vision aids such as Gait Aid, there are sleep aids - I can’t recall the name of a very expensive one but I have read one unbiased review. There are also laser canes and walkers. Occupational therapy aids to help people dress themselves. The often overlooked shower chair/seat to prevent falls in the shower (Falling is one of the leading causes of death in PD)

   There is accupuncture - the multiple one for the ear. Massage therapy done my a professional to target areas of stiffening muscles. Aqua therapy which uses the bouyancy of the water to aid the patient, exercise therapy.

   Patients may also want to read other Parkinson’s blogs such as:
   http://parkinsonsfocustoday.blogspot.com/
   You will also find links to other blog spots at this site.

   And the Parkinson’s forum at Patients Like Me where you can join as a member or caregiver.
   http://www.patientslikeme.com/

   And of course there are several Parkinson’s Foundations and Organizations. All of these will provide information.

   If you have PD, try to find a support group in your area.

   Remember, Parkinson’s doesn’t have the early warning system yet with physicians so make note of all symptoms that you suspect. It might give you and your doctor more insight. And don’t be afraid to as about options.

   One last thing, a little dark chocolate often brightens the day and aids constipation. Not a pretty thought but often better than the alternatives.

   Best wishes
8. "Drill baby Drill" says:

   January 9, 2010 at 7:38 am

   hey look on cure zone other people with this condiction just type it in the search box..you can learn a lot from other people.