Everything about Parkinson's Disease Medications: Let's talk simply

Does someone in your family, perhaps your father, mother, or someone you know, suffer from Parkinson's Disease? You must have felt very sad to see their hands shaking, their difficulty walking, their body stiffening, and their face losing all feeling. It is really not easy to live with this disease. But the best thing is that with today's advanced medical science, with the right medicine, you can control these symptoms to a great extent and live a good life. So today, let's talk very simply and kindly about the medicines given for Parkinson's disease.

First, let's see, what exactly is Parkinson's?

Let's understand this very simply. Parkinson's is a disease related to our nervous system. Specifically, our brain. It is a progressive condition that gradually worsens over time . There is an area of ​​our brain called the `substantia nigra` that controls movement. The nerve cells in this area are damaged and gradually die.

These nerve cells produce a very important chemical messenger, a `neurotransmitter`, for our body. Its name is dopamine . This dopamine is essential for our body's movements to be smooth and controlled. So when those nerve cells are destroyed, the level of dopamine in the brain decreases. That's why symptoms such as tremors, difficulty walking, and stiffness occur in Parkinson's disease.

Main medications for Parkinson's disease

When treating Parkinson's disease, doctors often use a combination of several medications, rather than a single medication. These vary depending on the individual's symptoms, age, and stage of the disease. Let's take a look at the main types of medications.

1. Levodopa and Carbidopa

This is the main and most effective medication for Parkinson's disease. It is also called the gold standard.

• Levodopa: When this medicine enters our body, it enters the brain and turns into dopamine. That is, this medicine restores the amount of dopamine that has been depleted in the brain.
• Carbidopa: But there is a problem. If we take levodopa alone, most of it is destroyed by enzymes in our body before it reaches the brain. To stop this, a drug called carbidopa is given together with levodopa. Carbidopa allows more of the levodopa to reach the brain safely. Also, carbidopa helps reduce the side effects of taking levodopa alone, such as nausea and vomiting.

This combination of medications often works very well for symptoms of bradykinesia, stiffness, and tremor.

2. Dopamine Agonists

This type of medication is like an actor. That is, it's not actually dopamine. But it goes to the brain and acts like dopamine. It stimulates dopamine receptors in the brain, giving the brain the feeling that dopamine is there.

These medications are usually prescribed in the early stages of the disease, especially in younger patients. They can sometimes help to prolong the effectiveness of levodopa.

• Pramipexole (Mirapex®)
• Ropinirole (Requip®)
• Rotigotine (Neupro®)

3. Enzyme Inhibitors

Don't be scared when you hear this name. It's very simple. We said earlier that there are enzymes in our body that break down dopamine. What these drugs do is stop the activity of those enzymes. Then the dopamine in the brain is not destroyed for a long time.

There are two main types of these:

• MAO-B Inhibitors: These block the action of `MAO-B`, a major enzyme that breaks down dopamine in the brain. Examples: `Selegiline`, `Rasagiline`.
• COMT Inhibitors: These inhibit the enzyme `COMT` that breaks down dopamine, which is formed from levodopa. Due to this, the effect of levodopa lasts longer. Examples: `Entacapone`, `Opicapone`.

4. Amantadine

Some patients who take medications like levodopa for a long time can develop involuntary, jerky movements (dyskinesia). Amantadine is mainly used to treat these conditions. Surprisingly, it was originally developed as an antiviral drug. But it was later discovered to also help with Parkinson's symptoms.

5. Anticholinergic Medications

This type of medication mainly helps to control tremors and rigidity in the body . When dopamine in our brain decreases, the effect of another `neurotransmitter` called acetylcholine increases. These medications block the effect of that acetylcholine. Examples: `Benztropine`, `Trihexyphenidyl`.

Medications for other symptoms not related to movement

Parkinson's disease doesn't just affect movement. It can also cause other problems, such as constipation, sleep problems, depression, and sexual dysfunction. Your doctor will prescribe medication for each of these.

Let's also learn about the side effects of these medications.

Like any medication, Parkinson's medications can have side effects. It's important to be aware of these in advance. However, not everyone gets these side effects. Also, some of these go away as the medication continues to be used.

Is medication not enough? What else can be done?

Medication is really only one part of the battle. If you do a few other things along with medication, you can better control your symptoms and stay happy.

Physical Therapy

This is definitely something to do. There are physical therapy programs specifically for Parkinson's patients. These will help you,

• You can improve your body's balance and gait.
• It can increase body stability.
• It helps a lot to maintain an active life.

Exercising

Exercise is the best way to manage Parkinson's disease. Exercise is the only thing that has been scientifically proven to slow the progression of the disease. It is best to do at least 150 minutes of cardiovascular exercise per week. Things like cycling, boxing, and exercising to music are very helpful.

Taking care of mental health

When living with a long-term illness like Parkinson's, it's common to feel depressed, anxious, and anxious. So, if you're feeling this way, it's important to not be ashamed of it and seek help from a mental health professional, such as a psychologist .

When should you see your doctor again?

When using Parkinson's medication, it is essential to see your doctor regularly to check whether the medication is working and whether new symptoms have developed. Be sure to see your doctor especially in these cases.

• If you experience side effects that you cannot tolerate .
• If your symptoms do not improve or worsen .
• If you feel like stopping your medication . (Never make this decision alone!)