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Medication That Treats Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease affects the part of the brain which controls movement. Normally, nerve cells make a chemical called dopamine which helps coordinate movement, but in Parkinson's these cells die or malfunction. There is no cure for Parkinson's but medication can treat symptoms.

  1. Symptoms

    • Symptoms of Parkinson's disease include tremors or shaking which get worse when you rest, depression, nightmares, excess saliva, and trouble walking or cutting food.

    Typical Treatment

    • Parkinson's disease is typically treated with a combination of the medicines levodopa and carbidopa. Levodopa converts into dopamine and carbidopa decreases nausea and helps levodopa reach the brain.

    Inhibitors

    • Parkinson's treatment includes inhibitor medications which work with levodopa. Azilect and Carbex inhibit MAO-B (monoamine oxidase B) from oxidizing and limiting available dopamine. Comtan and Tasmar inhibit the COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase) enzyme from breaking down dopamine.

    Other Medication

    • Other medicines used to treat Parkinson's include dopamine agonists, such as Requip, which mimic dopamine in the brain; the antiviral drug Symmetryl; and anticholinergics such as Benadryl, which helps control tremors.

    Dementia

    • Parkinson's dementia is treated with the Exelon Patch. It is applied to the skin and medicine is delivered for 24 hours continuously.

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