The effects of the drug?

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Sat Apr 07, 2007 6:33 pm Post subject: The effects of the drug?

As PD is not 'going away" disease' i.e. a slow progression and is different from other disease i.e a self -limited sickness or injury that temporarily impact their lives as inconvenience or comfort.

As the medicine has a wearing on/off is it from the day when we start taking or from the day the disease is detected?

What are the syndrome after the medicine "wearing off" on the PD patients?

Is it the PD medicine has a wearing on/off i.e. 3 - 5 years on the patients?

Kindly elaborate? TEO KIM HOE


Kathrynne Holden, MS, RDJoined: 22 Jan 2007Posts: 0Location: www.nutritionucanlivewith.com
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:12 am Post subject:

Dear Teo,

The “wearing off” of the PD medications is not

When PD symptoms first begin to appear, and PD is diagnosed, it is an early stage, and the brain is still continuing to produce some dopamine, although not as much as previously.

At this stage, the PD medications boost the activity of the brain’s production, and are quite successful at eliminating the symptoms.

But as you say, PD slowly progresses, and the brain produces less and less dopmine.

At last, it cannot produce any more, and must rely totally on the PD medications. Sinemet is still very helpful; but nothing is as successful as the body’s own organs.

The medications cannot match the brain’s excellent work.

They do not offer dopamine, but rather levodopa, which must reach the bloodstream, cross the blood-brain barrier, and at last reach the area of the brain where they can become converted to dopamine. This is a quite different process than the normal activity of the brain and we must expect some limitations.

This is the “wearing off” that you describe. This is due not so much to a weakness in the medications themselves, but rather, by the slowly decreasing ability of the brain to produce dopamine.

I recommend you post your question on “Ask the Doctor.” The doctors are specialists in PD and the medications and can far better explain and describe the effects of the drugs._________________

Best regards, Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD -- For a Parkinson Tip of the Day visit: http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/
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