How Is Parkinson’s disease Treated?

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement within the body, along with rigidity, stiffness, sluggishness, and tremor. It happens when there is a problem with certain nerve cells within the brain. These nerve cells are generally designed to release a chemical called dopamine, which sends signals to the brain to control the movement of the various parts of the body. When there is lack of this chemical being produced, the brain fails to function effectively, thus causing abnormality in movement. This condition is known as Parkinson’s disease. Because dopamine controls activities like movement, sleep, learning, behavior, mood, concentration, and memory, all these activities are also affected by Parkinson’s disease.

The saddest part of Parkinson’s disease is that there is no permanent cure of the ailment. However, there are a variety of treatment options available that can help manage the symptoms, and avoid it from progressing. By consulting an experienced Parkinson’s disease specialist in Bangalore like Dr. Shivam Mittal, patients can find the most effective treatment plan for their condition, and lead a good life ahead, in spite of their condition. Doctors generally suggest some medications, accompanied by regular exercising and therapies. The exercises generally include those that intensively raise the heartbeat rate and make the patient breathe heavily. The exercising regime consists of at least half an hour of exercise every day, which when followed strictly can improve the life of patients over two years.

What medications can treat Parkinson’s disease?

• The most basic medication given is Carbidopa/Lovedopa, which turns into actual dopamine, and makes up for the lost chemical in the brain. This medication highly improves motor symptoms. Some of the brand names of this medication include Sinemet, Sinemet ER, and Rytary.

• Then, there are dopamine agonists that act like dopamine in the brain and connect to various parts of the brain that natural dopamine would connect to. Examples of these medications include Ropinirole, Rotigotine, Pramipexole, and Apomorphine.

• When the Parkinson’s disease is diagnosed or is at the mildest stage, patients are given MAO-B inhibitors that prevent dopamine already in the brain from being broken down so that its benefits can be prolonged. Examples include Rasagiline, Safinamide, and Selegiline.

• Other inhibitors are COMT inhibitors that prevent the breakdown of Levodopa, which converts into dopamine in the brain naturally. With this medication, more levodopa is sent to the brain to be converted into dopamine. However, COMT inhibitors are given in conjunction with Carbidopa/Levodopa to improve the symptoms.

What can alternative therapies treat Parkinson’s disease?

When medications don’t work, patients are given one of these two therapies –

Duopa or Dopamine Pump which connects an external pump into the patient’s body and allows Levodopa to be dispensed directly to the small intestine. This infusion pumps Levodopa for more than 16 hours into the body and is turned off while the patient is sleeping. This eliminates the need to take Levodopa medications orally.

Deep Brain Stimulation surgery, wherein an electrode is implanted into the portion of the brain that is responsible for causing Parkinson’s disease. This electrode provides high-frequency electrical stimulation to targeted areas so that symptoms are improved. This stimulation is powered by a battery placed within the chest, which acts like a pacemaker.

However, these surgeries are avoided as much as possible. First, medications and therapies are prescribed; and only when they don’t work, doctors suggest these surgeries.

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