Parkinson Disease Treatment & Management
Treatment for Parkinson’s disease depends upon the severity of symptoms and the overall well-being of the patient. There is a combination of medications, therapies, and lifestyle changes which cause improvement in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Adequate exercise, balanced diet, and rest are important. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy can also aid in improving self-care and communication. [9]
Medications and drugs
In almost all patients of Parkinson’s disease, medication is a must to help manage the various mental and physical health symptoms arising due to the neurological disorder. There is a variety of medications available to treat Parkinson’s disease, which includes the following:
- Levodopa
Levodopa is the most popular treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Levodopa helps in replenishing the dopamine levels. Almost 75 percent of the patients respond well to levodopa but it does not improve all symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Doctors combine carbidopa with levodopa to maximize the replenishment of dopamine levels. Carbidopa helps in the slower breakdown of levodopa which increases the accessibility of levodopa at the brain-blood barrier.