Parkinson Disease

What Are Anticholinergic Drugs?

Anticholinergic drugs, such as Artane and Cogentin, block the actions of acetylcholine. Normally acetyl-choline slows your heart, constricts your pupils, con-tracts your bladder, and increases salivation, gut motility, and sweating....

What is Amantadine?

Amantadine may improve PD by releasing dopamine from the neurons in the substantia nigra, or by blocking the production of acetylcholine. Drugs that block acetylcholine increase the activity of dopamine....

What is an MAO-B Inhibitor?

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is an enzyme found in mitochondria that exists in two forms: MAO-A and MAO-B. MAO-A breaks down adrenalin, noradrena-lin, and serotonin, and is found predominantly in cells...

What Are The Side Effects Of Dopamine Agonists?

One of the side effects people experience when taking dopamine agonists is drowsiness. Periods of daytime drowsiness, sometimes accompanied by falling asleep, occur in people with PD who are not...

What is a Dopamine Agonist?

A dopamine antagonist is a drug, such as Compazine, Haldol, or Thorazine, that blocks dopamine receptors in the brain. These drugs cause a form of Parkinson disease that is reversible...

What About Alternative Drugs?

Alternative or complementary drugs and vitamins are non-prescription, off-patent, and have not been subjected to the vigorous trials prescription drugs undergo. For a prescription drug to be prescribed for PD,...

What Is The Goal Of Treatment?

The goal of treatment is to provide you with the best possible quality of life. To do this, you must learn as much as you can about PD, work with...

Why Do I Sweat So Much?

Sweat glands, called apocrine glands, release their secretions into hair follicles in your armpits, around your nipples, and in your groin. They’re tubular glands that extend below the superficial layer...

Why Am I Losing Weight?

About 20% of people with PD lose weight, especially people with advanced PD. This weight loss can be marked, with patients losing 10–20% of their body weight over a short...

Why Do I Have Difficulty Swallowing?

Swallowing difficulty (dysphagia) usually occurs late in PD, but may occur at any time and early on might be difficult to recognize. It can vary from mild (an inconvenience), to...

Why do I Get Dizzy? Dizziness and Parkinson Disease

Dizziness usually occurs in PD because of orthostatic or postural hypotension (a drop in blood pressure on sitting or standing). To understand why your blood pressure drops, you must understand...

Falls in Parkinson's Disease

Falling and loss of balance occur in people with PD and can result in major injuries: fractured shoulders, hips, ankles, and even skulls. To decrease falling, it helps to understand...

What Is Freezing Of Gait (FOG)?

Freezing of gait (FOG) is a common symptom in advanced PD—PD that’s been diagnosed for at least five years. It occurs in 30% of PD patients with advanced PD, though...

How Can Free Radicals Worsen Parkinson Disease?

Molecules are composed of atoms bonded together, which is accomplished by the sharing of electrons. When two atoms come together and their electrons pair up, a bond is created. Such...

Does Iron Worsen Parkinson Disease?

Adults store one to three grams of iron in their bodies (about 1/10 ounce), which is maintained through a balance between dietary intake and loss. After iron is absorbed, it...

Why Does Parkinson Disease Get Worse?

PD worsens mainly due to increased cell death—the process is explained in this section. There are 100 billion neurons in the brain. For each nerve cell there are, perhaps, 10...

What Is A Hyperkinetic Movement Disorder?

Some movement disorders involve increased movement and are termed hyperkinetic movement disorders. Tics and tremors fit this category, as do akathisia, chorea, and myoclonus. Akathisia is an inner sense of...

What Is Dystonia?

Dystonia is increased muscle tone, but it results from a different alteration in the nervous system than rigidity or spasticity. Dystonia usually results in your neck, arm, leg, or trunk...