Parkinson’s disease treatment
Parkinson’s disease treatment is only palliative and aims to decrease the severity of the discomfort that Parkinson’s patient is experiencing. There is no standard Parkinson’s disease treatment. The strategy and methods of treatment for Parkinson’s disease are based on the symptoms of the disease.
Parkinson’s disease treatment includes medications and surgical approaches. Other treatments for Parkinson’s disease include diet, Yoga, and lifestyle modifications such as more rest and exercise.
There are many medications available to relieve the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, although none yet reverses the development of the disease. People often take different medications – all at different doses and at different times of the day – to manage their symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
While keeping track of your medications can be a difficult task, understanding your medications and sticking to a schedule will ensure you get the most benefit from your medications and avoid unpleasant “off” periods due to missed doses.
Prescription Parkinson’s disease medications
Although there are general guidelines that physicians use to choose a Parkinson’s disease treatment regimen, each person with Parkinson’s disease should be evaluated individually to determine which drug or combination of medications is best for them. For some, a “first choice” drug might be one of the levodopa preparations, and for others, an initial prescription might be given for one of the agonists, an MAO inhibitor, or an anticholinergic.
The choice of drugs for Parkinson’s disease treatment depends on many variables, including present symptoms, other existing health problems (and the drugs used to treat them), and age. Dosages vary widely depending on a person’s needs and metabolism.
Since most symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are caused by a lack of dopamine in the brain, many PD medications aim to temporarily replenish dopamine or mimic the action of dopamine. These types of medications are called dopaminergic medications. They often help to reduce muscle stiffness, improve movement speed and coordination, and decrease tremors.
Always remember that medications are only part of your overall treatment plan for Parkinson’s disease. Find out more about the available medications for Parkinson’s disease treatment, but don’t ignore diet, exercises, and complementary therapies.
Warning:
PD medications may interact with certain foods, other medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, OTC cold pills, and other medications. If you are taking medications for Parkinson’s disease treatment talk to your primary physician and pharmacist about potential drugs interactions.
Generic vs. Branded Drugs
There are currently several pharmaceutical companies that manufacture a generic formulation of carbidopa/levodopa, dopamine agonists, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and anticholinergics. The FDA requires generics to show significant brand affinity prior to market approval, but in rare cases, this standard is not high enough.
The review, supported by the Parkinson Foundation, provides strong evidence that if you are in the latter stages of the disease, switching from brand-name drugs to generics or from one generic to another can have slightly different effects. The authors, including Parkinson’s National Medical Advisor, Dr. Michael S. Okun, believe that generic approval standards for PD may not be stringent enough to demonstrate that generic alternatives are equally effective.
Talk to your family doctor to create a personalized Parkinson’s disease treatment plan. Using generic drugs is likely to save you money, and it is only on rare occasions that you may need branded drugs.
If you switch from branded to generic Parkinson’s disease medications, follow these tips:
- Inform your doctor about the effectiveness of the medicines.
- Carefully keep a journal of any side effects.
- Record the dose adjustments made by your doctors (upper or lower).
- Try to stick with one drug manufacturer for your generic drugs. You may need to ask your pharmacist to place a special order for you.
When attempts to adjust drug therapy with a generic drug have failed, ask your doctor to call the insurance company for a brand-name drug. It is important to include details of the various unwanted side effects of the generic drug in your appeal letter.
Physical therapy
The ability to move around and stay active is important for people with Parkinson’s Disease from diagnosis to disease progression. The role of physical therapy in Parkinson’s disease treatment is to help you move as well as possible and for as long as possible while improving your ability to move. Recent research suggests that physical therapy including gait and balance training, resistance training, and regular exercise – can help improve or keep Parkinson’s symptoms at bay.
A physiotherapist can provide:
- Education and self-management advice.
- Exercise programs have been associated with improvements (or slower declines) in mobility, quality of life, and severity of the disease.
- Answers to your inquiries regarding the type, intensity, frequency, or duration of physical exercises that are most beneficial for you.
- Means of maintaining safety when exercising.
- Help to:
- Normal physical activity routine
- Walking: slowness, small steps, or freezing (feeling stuck to the ground or difficulty starting)
- Balance or stability
- Posture
- Pain
- Getting around the house (getting up from a chair, moving around in bed)
- Getting around (getting in / out of a car or bus, elevators, stairs, and rough terrain)
- Respond to the fear of falling, having fallen, or worrying about your safety.
- Other health problems that affect mobility, including joint or muscle pain due to
- arthritis, endurance problems due to heart or lung disease, fracture, or surgery
Surgical options
Although surgery can be an effective treatment option for a variety of symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD), only those symptoms that previously improved with levodopa can improve after surgery. A surgical approach to Parkinson’s disease treatment is intended for patients with PD who have unsuccessfully undergone the treatment for Parkinson’s tremor or suffer from deep motor dyskinesias.
Currently, there are two surgical treatments available for people living with PD – deep brain stimulation (DBS) or surgery to insert a tube into the small intestine that provides a carbidopa/levodopa gel formulation (Duopa ™).
Benefits and Risks of Clinical Trials
Joining clinical trials can be a fulfilling experience. While determining whether or not to join in a clinical trial, take into consideration the following benefits:
- You have access to leading healthcare professionals, innovative new treatments, and high standards of care.
- Participating in a clinical trial can improve your knowledge and understanding of your disease.
- People who take part in clinical trials contribute to science that they and others can benefit from. The drugs you are now taking are only available because people have volunteered in clinical trials before you.
- While every effort is made to ensure that clinical trials are as safe as possible, clinical trials that test new therapies are experiments and may involve risks.
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
It’s a nervous system disorder that affects your movement. Parkinson’s disease tends to gradually worsen over time.
Symptoms develop gradually, at times beginning with a barely noticeable tremor in one hand. With this condition, tremors are common, and they can also lead to the slowing of movement and stiffness.
If you have Parkinson’s disease, your face will show no or little expression during the initial stage. Additionally, your arms may not swing while walking, and you’ll experience slurred speech as well. It’s a progressive disorder, and the symptoms worsen over time.
As of now, there’s no cure for Parkinson’s. However, treatment can significantly minimize the symptoms. For a more holistic approach, natural treatment for Parkinson’s can be a viable alternative.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
Symptoms vary from person to person. Initially, the symptoms can be mild, and you may not even notice them. Generally, symptoms begin at one side of your body, and that side remains the most affected even after symptoms appear on both sides.
Symptoms can include:
- The most common symptom is a tremor that generally starts at your limbs, and your hand may also experience tremors when at rest.
- Gradually, your movement will also slow down, making routine tasks challenging. Your steps may become shorter while walking, or you may find it difficult to get out of a chair.
- You can also experience muscle stiffness in any part of your body. It can often be painful and curtail your range of motion.
- Balance problems and impaired posture can also result from Parkinson’s.
- After a while, even unconscious movements like swinging your arms, smiling, and blinking can see a reduction.
- Slurred speech is also a common symptom. You may also speak swiftly, softly, or hesitate before talking.
You may experience some or all of these symptoms. Alternative and Natural treatment for Parkinson’s can be helpful in reducing these symptoms.
What are the causes of Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a continuing, non-curable, chronic, progressive neurological illness that affects about 1 million Americans. Parkinson’s disease affects a small, dark-grey-colored area in the brain called the substantia nigra. The substantia nigra produces dopamine that the brain uses for its functionality. Dopamine is a natural chemical transmitter that spreads messages among the nerves that regulate muscle movement, as well as those involved in the brain’s pleasure and reward centers. As we age, it is normal for cells in the substantia nigra to die. This process occurs very slowly in most people.
However, in some people, the loss of Dopamine happens quickly, creating the onset of Parkinson’s disease. When 50 to 60 percent of the substantial nigra cells are gone, a person starts experiencing the initial symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Thus, a deficit of Dopamine is one of the causes of Parkinson’s disease.
Natural And Alternative Treatment For Parkinson
Natural treatment for Parkinson’s Disease is effective and safe. Parkinson’s disease is not very common, but people with this condition can face a lot of challenges and discomfort. There is no single protocol for Parkinson’s disease treatment, but medications and drugs can help reduce the symptoms. However, these often bring adverse effects. As a result, many people are turning towards a natural treatment for Parkinson’s.
Alternative treatment for Parkinson’s offers safe and effective remedies without side effects. Particularly for people who see no positive results from conventional methods, natural remedies for Parkinson’s can prove to be helpful.
If you want a safe but Natural treatment for Parkinson’s, there are several options. The natural remedies for Parkinson’s disease mentioned below can be useful.
Acupuncture – #1 Natural treatment for Parkinson
Acupuncture for Parkinson’s disease has been scientifically backed to reduce the symptoms. Clinical studies show acupuncture for Parkinson’s disease to be helpful in dealing with symptoms of abnormal sweating, hot flashes, depression, anxiety, and pain. Patients show positive results after just two weeks of treatment. By placing very thin needles in particular points of your body, acupuncture can provide very positive results for Parkinson’s patients.
Additionally, Acupuncture for Parkinson’s disease has no or minimal side effects making it a viable natural Parkinson’s disease treatment for all ages. Research also shows that in combination with conventional Parkinson’s medication, the results can be even more outstanding. In conjunction with the widely used Levodopa, studies show that acupuncture can increase its effectiveness.
If you want to undergo an alternative treatment for Parkinson’s, acupuncture for Parkinson’s disease can prove to be very beneficial.
Chinese herbs for Parkinson’s disease
If you’re suffering from Parkinson’s disease and aren’t seeing results from the conventional method, Chinese herbs for Parkinson’s disease can be helpful. Chinese herbs have various natural remedies for Parkinson’s disease, and you might have to experiment with a few before finding a remedy.
In a clinical study of 115 Parkinson’s patients, participants were provided with a combination of various Chinese herbs for Parkinson’s disease, including gou teng for a period of 13 weeks. Results show that participants who took Chinese herbs for Parkinson’s disease slept better and experienced more fluency while speaking than those who didn’t take the herbs.
Chinese herbs for Parkinson’s diseases can prove to be very beneficial without adverse effects. Some study shows that they can even improve the results from conventional medications. However, herbs do have a tendency to counteract some medications, so if you want to use this Natural treatment for Parkinson‘s disease, make sure to consult your doctor.
Homeopathic treatment for Parkinson’s disease
For a holistic approach to your condition, homeopathic treatment for Parkinson’s disease can provide an effective and safe remedy. The entire homeopathic treatment can be personalized, making it possible to get to the core of your problem and find an effective remedy. Homeopathy has various natural remedies for Parkinson’s disease for many symptoms.
Some of the homeopathic remedies used to treat Parkinson symptoms are:
- Zincum metallicum: For depression and anxiety
- Mercurius Vivus: If you’re suffering from Parkinson’s that gets worse at night along with panic attacks, this homeopathic remedy can be useful.
- Cuprum: This homeopathic remedy is effective for easing muscle cramps
- Causticum: For the symptoms of restless legs
- Argentum Nitricum: If you have Parkinson’s along with symptoms of awkwardness, trembling, and ataxia, this homeopathic remedy can be useful.
Homeopathy, as a Natural Parkinson’s disease treatment, has few or side effects.
Fish Oil – #1 on the list of natural remedies for Parkinson disease
Fish oil as a natural Parkinson’s disease treatment is rich in omega 3 fatty acids, which can be very beneficial for people with Parkinson’s. Depression is a typical symptom of Parkinson’s, and fish oil can provide effective anti-depressant effects. For people dealing with depression from Parkinson’s, fish oil provides a natural and effective way of dealing with it. Additionally, it has various health benefits.
Conclusion
For effective natural Parkinson’s disease treatment, it’s essential that you seek treatment as soon as the disease was diagnosed, or the condition will only worsen, making treatment very challenging. Sadly, there’s no cure for Parkinson’s, and finding the most effective treatment can be very difficult. There’s no single treatment, so you’ll have to experiment with a few before finding the right one.
Luckily, at the Philadelphia Holistic Clinic, all alternative treatments reside under one roof and you shouldn’t go from one place to another. After initial evaluation at the clinic, you’ll be assigned by Dr. Tsan to a certified provider who will work with you and manage your treatment plan.
If you prefer a holistic and natural approach for the treatment of your medical condition, the natural remedies for Parkinson’s disease mentioned above can provide excellent results without adverse effects. They are also significantly more affordable than conventional methods.
Contact Philadelphia Holistic Clinic to schedule your appointment for an initial comprehensive evaluation and further treatment.
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