Parkinson disease was first described by James Parkinson in 1817 Over the years, various medication therapies have been FDA approved for Parkinson disease. In the 1960s, Sinemet (carbidooa-levodopa) was approved. Sinemet was and still is the gold standard therapy for Parkinson disease. While it is the gold standard, it should not be the first drug used to treat Parkinson disease. It should be the third or fourth drug used. Early use of Sinemet can result in unwanted, irreversible side effects.
Dopamine agonist were FDA approved in the 1990s for first line Parkinson disease therapy. These medications mimic the effect of dopamine in the brain of Parkinson disease patients. Dopamine is the brain chemical that is deficient in these patients. Mirapex (pramipexole) and Requip (ropinirole) are two commonly used dopamine agonists in the treatment of Parkinson patients.
The newest dopamine agonist which was FDA approved for Parkinson treatment is Neupro. Neupro is unique in that it is a dopamine agonist patch medication. This transdermal patch system is applied once daily to clean, dry skin. The benefit is that Parkinson patients get a 24 hour continuous medication dosing. Patch application sites need to be rotated daily, to prevent skin irritation. Neupro comes in several dosage strengths. Like other Parkinson medications, the dose needs to be adjusted for ideal patient functioning, with minimal side effects.
Dopamine agonists can have potential side effects. This class of medication can cause symptoms of hallucinations, confusion, lowered blood pressure, drowsiness, sudden sleep attacks – particularly while driving. Other side effects include stomach upset, nausea and compulsive behaviors – including gambling, eating and hypersexuality.
Parkinson disease does not need to be a disabling condition. With careful neurological management and detail to your specific needs, a Parkinson patient can have an excellent, functional quality of life for many years.