Parkinson Disease Treatment & Management
The treatment for Parkinson’s depends on the severity of the symptoms and overall health of the patient. Parkinson’s patients benefit from a combination medication, therapies and lifestyle changes. Rest, a balanced diet and adequate exercise are all important. Physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy can all help improve communication and self-care. [9]
Drugs and medications
Most Parkinson’s patients require medication to manage their mental and physical symptoms. Parkinson’s disease can be treated with a wide range of medications, including:
- Levodopa
Levodopa, the most common treatment for Parkinson’s Disease. Levodopa replenishes dopamine. Levodopa is effective for almost 75 percent of patients, but does not alleviate all symptoms. Carbidopa and levodopa are combined by doctors to replenish dopamine levels. Carbidopa slows down the breakdown of levodopa, increasing the availability of levodopa across the brain-blood barriers.
