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What is the Typical Treatment for Parkinson's Disease?

The treatment plan for Parkinson's is not to cure the disease, because it is not curable at this time. The treatment for Parkinson's is to give relieve when possible to the patient and to improve the quality of life. The symptoms can be controlled for many years by using medications, therapy both physical and speech, and by other alternative treatments.

The drugs of choice are:

Levodopa, which is the usual drug of choice. The patient will usually notice an improvement in symptoms almost immediately after starting this drug. There are short-term side effects including becoming nauseous, experiencing hallucinations, becoming unusually tired, and feeling light-headedness.

The class of drug known as dopamine agonists stimulates the dopamine receptors in order to bypass the brain cells that have been damaged and include bromocriptine, lisuride, pergolide, cabergoline, ropinirole, talipexole, pramipexole, and apomorphine. There are also side effects from this classification of drugs that includes nausea, and also mental issues such as experiencing hallucinations.

Other drugs used are apomorphine, COMT inhibitors, selegiline, amantadine, and also anticholinergics. There is always research being conducted into new drugs and hopefully a cure someday.

Non-drug treatments for Parkinson's includes counseling for the patient or family members, physiotherapy which is a form of aerobic exercise, speech therapy, diet improvements, lifestyle changes, and exercise.

Surgery is an option if all other options have been exhausted without sufficient results.

Surgery includes the areas of the brain known as the pallidum and the thalamus. The surgery may require burning of a hole to destroy cells, stimulating cells by using a device similar to a pacemaker, or using transplantation of tissue. Pallidotomy is an effective surgery for when it is necessary to treat involuntary movements. There may be severe side effects from this surgery such as an inability to speak and memory difficulties so it is important to weight all the risks before electing to undergo this surgery. Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation involves placement of an electrode into a cluster of cells known as the subthalamic nucleus. The operation is complex. Pallidal deep brain stimulation is done by placing an electrode into another cluster of nerve cells. Neurotransplantation can be done but it is still experimental so it should be discussed in depth with your doctor with a second opinion before undergoing it.

It is important for the patient to stay informed, and to keep a positive outlook concerning the quality of life desired and the willingness to do all that is possible to live as quality of a life as possible with the deck you have been dealt.

Your treatment plan should be well rounded, should have your input, and your treatment plan should be adjusted as your disease progresses.