If you or someone in your family has Parkinson's disease, you probably know how much it affects your daily life. Living with tremors, difficulty walking, and stiffness is not easy. Doctors prescribe various medications to control these symptoms. Today we are going to talk about one such medication, Istradefylline.
Simply put, what is Istradefylline?
Istradefylline is a medication that helps control the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. It is not usually given alone. It is used as
an additional medication when someone who is already taking the most commonly used medications for Parkinson's disease, Carbidopa and Levodopa, is not working well. Imagine, your doctor has already given you Carbidopa/Levodopa, but over time, you feel that the benefit of the medication is not enough, or you feel that the off-time of the medication is increasing. At such times, your doctor adds this Istradefylline medication to help control your symptoms better. This medication works by balancing the activity of certain chemicals (neurotransmitters) in our brain that control body movements and coordination. Through this, it can reduce the main symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as stiffness and tremors.
Things you need to tell your doctor before starting this medication
Before starting any medication, it is very important to give your doctor a complete description of your health condition. Especially before starting Istradefylline, be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:
- Liver disease : It is important to tell your doctor if you have any liver disease, as the liver plays a major role in the process of removing this medication from the body. If you have a liver problem, the effects of the medication may be increased unnecessarily.
- Mental health conditions : If you have previously had depression , anxiety , or other mental health conditions, inform your doctor about it.
- If you smoke (Tobacco use): If you are a smoker, you should also tell your doctor about it. This is because smoking can reduce the effectiveness of this medicine. Also, if you are planning to quit smoking, you should also tell your doctor about it, because then the dosage of the medicine may need to be changed.
- Allergies: Tell us if you have any allergies to this Istradefylline medication, any other medication, food, or dye.
- If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant: This is very important. If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or suspect you are pregnant, do not use this medicine. Be sure to talk to your doctor about this.
- If you are a breastfeeding mother: If you are a breastfeeding mother, tell your doctor about it as well.
How should I use the medicine exactly?
The most important thing is to use the medicine exactly as the doctor says.
- Take this medicine with a glass of water.
- Make it a habit to take your medicine at the same time every day. This will help keep the medicine's effects consistent throughout your body.
- You can take this with or without food. However, if you sometimes experience stomach upset, it is best to take the medicine with a meal.
- The most important thing is, don't stop taking the medicine until your doctor tells you to. If you stop taking the medicine suddenly, you could have a serious reaction.
What to do if you miss a dose of medication?
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time.
Do not take two doses at once for any reason. What if you take too much medicine? (Overdose)
If you think you have taken too much medicine,
go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. Or call
the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Therefore, never share it with anyone else.
Other things that may interact with this medicine (Interactions)
Istradefylline may interact with other medications, vitamins, and herbal products you are taking. Therefore, it is important to tell your doctor about everything you are taking. This medicine may interact with the following:
- Some antibiotics, for example `Clarithromycin`.
- Some medications that are prescribed to lower cholesterol include: `Atorvastatin`, `Lovastatin`, `Simvastatin`.
- Some medications used to treat fungal infections, e.g. `Ketoconazole`, `Itraconazole`.
- Some medications are given to control seizures, e.g. `Carbamazepine`, `Phenobarbital`, `Phenytoin`.
- Digoxin, a medicine used for heart disease.
- Rifampin, a medicine used to treat tuberculosis.
- Herbal supplements like St. John's wort.
This list is not all-inclusive, so it is important for your own safety to tell your doctor
about all medications, vitamins, and herbal products you are taking.
Things you should be careful about when taking medication
- See your doctor regularly: It's important to have regular follow-up appointments with your doctor to see if your symptoms are improving or worsening. If your symptoms are not improving or getting worse, tell your doctor .
- Impulsive behaviors: This may seem strange, but some people taking this medication may experience uncontrollable urges to engage in sexual activity, spend money on unnecessary things, and buy things. This is not your fault, it may be a side effect of the medication. So if you or your family members notice any of these changes, don't be shy and tell your doctor right away.
- Pregnancy: As mentioned earlier, if you are planning to become pregnant, or suspect you are pregnant, this medication can cause serious birth defects in your baby. Therefore, it is essential to talk to your doctor about this.
Side effects that may occur with this medicine
Like any medicine, Istradefylline can cause some side effects. Some of them can be serious and require immediate medical attention. Others are less serious and go away with time.
Side effects that should be reported to your doctor immediatelySide effects that usually do not require medical attention (but tell your doctor if they persist)
| Type of side effect | Description |
|---|
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. |
| Mental and behavioral changes | Restlessness, agitation, mental confusion, seeing or hearing things that are not real (hallucinations), suicidal thoughts, increased depression. |
| Uncontrollable movements | New or increasing uncontrollable movements (dyskinesia) of the face, mouth, or upper body. |
| Impulsive behaviors | An uncontrollable urge to play dirty games, engage in sexual activity, buy unnecessary things, or overeat. |
| Constipation | Difficulty going to the toilet. |
| Dizziness | Dizziness. |
| Nausea | Feeling like vomiting. |
| Trouble sleeping | Difficulty falling asleep. |
This list does not include all side effects. If you experience anything unusual, talk to your doctor about it.
How to take care of the medicine?
- Keep it safe , out of the reach of children and pets .
- Store at a temperature between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius (15-30 °C).
- Do not use expired medicine.
When disposing of expired or unwanted medications, do so in an environmentally friendly manner. If possible, hand them over to a drug collection program at public hospitals or some pharmacies. If that is not possible, take the pills out of the bottle, mix them with something like used tea leaves, coffee grounds, or soil, and place them in a tightly sealed bag and dispose of them in the trash.
Never flush them down the toilet. Take-Home Message
- Istradefylline is a medication used to control the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, usually in combination with other medications such as Carbidopa/Levodopa.
- Before starting this medication, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and all other medications you are taking.
- Never stop taking medication suddenly without your doctor's advice.
- If you experience uncontrollable cravings, such as cravings for sweets or unnecessary items, while taking the medication, tell your doctor immediately, as this could be a side effect of the medication.
- If you are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, this medicine is not suitable for you. Talk to your doctor about this.
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