Parkinson’s Disease: Understanding Your Medicines
Parkinson Disease: Understanding Your Medicines
Medicines are key to treating Parkinson disease. You may be prescribed 1 or more medicines. Be sure you know the names of your medicines and when and how to take them. Ask your healthcare provider what side effects you might expect. Also ask if you should not eat certain foods or drink alcohol.
Types of medicines* |
Examples |
How they help |
|---|---|---|
Levodopa combined with carbidopa |
Carbidopa-levadopa |
Levodopa replaces missing dopamine. Carbidopa helps levodopa enter the brain with fewer side effects. |
Dopamine agonists |
Pramipexole, bromocriptine, ropinirole, rotigotine |
Imitate the way dopamine works in the brain. |
MAO-B inhibitors |
Selegiline, rasagiline |
Help dopamine work longer. |
COMT inhibitors |
Entacapone, combination of carbidopa, levodopa, and entacapone |
Taken with levodopa. Help dopamine enter the brain and work longer. |
NMDA antagonists |
Amantadine |
Reduce involuntary movements and tremors. |
Anticholinergics |
Trihexyphenidyl, benztropine |
Reduce tremor. |
*This chart is not a complete list of Parkinson medicines. It does not include all side effects or adverse reactions. It does not include all interactions or precautions for these medicines. Only a healthcare provider can recommend or prescribe these medicines.
The list of medicines does not include medicines that may treat other symptoms of Parkinson disease such as depression, psychosis, urinary symptoms, and others.
Updated:
February 24, 2018
Sources:
Parkinson's Disease: An Update. American Family Physician. Gazewood, John. 2013: Vol. 84, No. 4, pp. 267-273.
Reviewed By:
Sather, Rita, RN,Shelat, Amit, MD