Dealing With Parkinson's Disease: A Guide For Patients And Families

Medical Treatment Methods

Once an individual with Parkinson's disease begins to experience minor symptoms, treatment with medication is typically necessary. The most common medication prescribed in the first stages of Parkinson's disease is levodopa, which helps replace depleted dopamine in the brain. Studies conducted on the quality of life of Parkinson's disease patients have shown drug therapy with dopaminergic medications helps prevent falls, improves the patient's sense of well-being, and improves their daily function.

As symptoms of Parkinson's disease progress, more medications are usually added to the treatment regimen. A common characteristic seen in drug treatment for Parkinson's disease is a process referred to as wearing off. Wearing off describes how the frequency of medication administration must be increased as the patient's Parkinson's disease worsens. Another medical treatment that may be used to treat Parkinson's disease is deep brain stimulation through the use of an implantable pacemaker-like medical device.