Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder of the nervous system. It causes unintended and uncontrollable movements. There are many different types of medications that a person may take to manage Parkinson’s disease symptoms.
Parkinson’s disease can cause a person to experience difficulty walking and talking. It can also cause a person to develop mental and behavioral changes.
This article discusses the different types of medications a doctor may prescribe to help relieve Parkinson’s disease symptoms.
Parkinson’s disease resources
To discover more evidence-based information and resources for Parkinson’s disease, visit our dedicated hub.
One of the main causes of Parkinson’s disease is the
These nerve cells produce a brain chemical called dopamine. When the brain produces less dopamine than usual, it causes the movement problems associated with the disease.
Below are some medications that aim to increase the amount of dopamine in a person’s brain to help relieve the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Levodopa
Levodopa is a medication that crosses the blood-brain barrier and converts to dopamine in the brain.
Certain enzymes in the blood break levodopa down before it can reach the brain. This means that people often take levodopa with an enzyme inhibitor called carbidopa. This helps prevent the enzymes from metabolizing the drug, allowing more of it to reach the brain.
Levodopa may help reduce the following symptoms of Parkinson’s disease:
Side effects
Levodopa treatment may cause the
Carbidopa may help reduce nausea. Therefore, if a person experiences nausea when taking levodopa, a medical professional may recommend taking medication that combines levodopa and carbidopa.
Older people may be more sensitive to the central nervous system side effects of levodopa. These may include:
Dopamine agonists
Dopamine agonists are a series of medications that
Examples of these medications include:
- bromocriptine
- pergolide
- rotigotine
- pramipexole
- ropinirole
- apomorphine
People may take dopamine agonists alone or alongside levodopa. A doctor may prescribe them during the early stages of Parkinson’s disease or to help increase the duration and efficacy of levodopa.
Side effects
Dopamine agonists tend to cause more side effects than levodopa. Common side effects include:
In some individuals, dopamine agonists may also cause:
- hallucinations
- confusion
- psychosis
Selegiline
Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) is an enzyme that
Selegiline is an MAO-B inhibitor. This means that it blocks or reduces the activity of MAO-B in the brain. This helps
Side effects
Common side effects of selegiline include:
- constipation
- nausea
- insomnia
- dizziness
- headaches
Selegiline may also cause a severe increase in blood pressure if a person consumes it with tyramine-rich foods, beverages, or supplements.
It can also cause other dangerous adverse effects, including:
- orthostatic hypotension
- arrhythmias
- sudden sleep episodes
- dyskinesia
- changes in mental state
- hallucinations
- extrapyramidal symptoms, which may involve involuntary movements, muscle spasms, and tremors
- serotonin syndrome
Below are some examples of medications that a person may take to help manage tremors and involuntary movements.
Anticholinergics
Anticholinergics are a class of drugs that can
Examples of anticholinergic medications include:
- trihexyphenidyl
- benztropine
- ethopropazine
Side effects
Side effects of these medications may include:
- constipation
- dry mouth
- urinary retention
- blurry vision
- hallucinations
- memory loss
- confusion
Amantadine
Amantadine is a medication a person can take to help
Doctors may prescribe the medication alone or in combination with levodopa or an anticholinergic drug.
Side effects
Common side effects of amantadine include:
- low blood pressure
- nausea
- dizziness
- leg discoloration
- confusion and paranoia
- insomnia
- hallucinations
People with Parkinson’s disease
Below are some medications people may take to help treat any mental health conditions associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a
This medication works by increasing the levels of serotonin in a person’s brain to help reduce their symptoms of depression.
Research suggests that SSRI treatment
Side effects
SSRIs may cause side effects, such as:
- dizziness
- headaches
- gastrointestinal upset
- sexual dysfunction
- dry mouth
- anxiety
- weight changes
- sleep disturbances
SSRIs also pose a risk of causing serotonin syndrome.
Other medications for treating Parkinson’s disease-related depression
According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, there are a number of non-SSRI medications a person may use to treat depression.
These medications include:
Their side effects and interactions with other medications may slightly differ, so a person should speak with a healthcare professional to work out which one may work best for them.
If a person has Parkinson’s disease and experiences side effects from certain medications, they should speak with a doctor right away. A healthcare professional may be able to help suggest alternative treatments that do not cause the same side effects.
A doctor can work with a person to help develop a tailored treatment plan.
When a person begins taking medications for Parkinson’s disease they should:
- report to a doctor how effective the drugs have been
- keep a diary listing any side effects
- record any dosage adjustments a doctor makes
Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder of the nervous system that causes unintended and uncontrollable movements.
There are many different medications that a person may take to treat some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. These include medications that increase the amount of dopamine in a person’s brain, medications that help reduce tremors, and medications to manage depression and other mental health conditions.
A person should speak with a healthcare professional who can help work out which medications may work best on an individual basis.