Antiparkinsonism agents

Question 1

anticholinergic

Answer 1

Actions:
-drugs that oppose the effects of acetylcholine @ the receptor sites

Uses:

• used as adjunctive therapy with dopaminergic drugs
• for drug-induced extrapyramidal effects

Ex:

• Benztropine (Cogetin)
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• trihexyphenidyl (Artane)

Nursing responsibilities:

• the usual
• assess orientation and neurological status
• contraindications: allergies, ENSURE THAT THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS ARE CAUSED BY PARKINSONISM

Question 2

dopaminergic

Answer 2

Actions:
-a drug that increases amount of dopamine

Uses:
-adjusts the balance of neurotransmitters to relieve tremors & rigidity in Parkinson’s

Ex:

• Amantadine (Symmetrel)
• Carbidopa-levodopa (Sinemet)
• Levodopa (Dopar)

Nursing responsibilities:
-If monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are being taken with dopaminergic, there could be a risk for hypertensive crisis. MAOIs should be stopped 14 days prior to taking a dopaminergic.
-Taking OTC (over-the-counter) vitamins should also be
avoided as it can decrease its effectiveness
-emphasize that these drugs aren’t CURES
-sometimes used for testing to see if the symptoms shown are actually caused by Parkinson’s
-DON’T crush it as they are supposed to be slowly released
-taken with meals

Question 3

Effects

Answer 3

• anxiety, nervousness (dopaminergics, anticholinergics)
• flushing, sweating (both)
• blurred vision, Photophobia (sensitive to light)(anticholinergics)
• hypotension, arrhythmias (both)
• anorexia, nausea, dysphagia (dopaminergics)
• decreased secretions, constipation (anticholinergics, dopaminergics)
• teratogenicity (birth defects)(both)
• fluid retention (both)

Question 4

Adjunctive agents

Answer 4

actions: dependant on drug
uses: adjunct therapy with carbidopa-levodopa