parkinson's disease

Question 1

motor symptoms of parkinson’s?

Answer 1

resting tremor, rigidity, akinesia, postural instability

Question 2

non motor symptoms of parkinson’s?

Answer 2

hypotension, cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances

Question 3

pathology of parkinson’s?

Answer 3

loss of dopamine containing neurons in the substantia nigra, resulting loss of terminals in the caudate putamen

Question 4

treatments of parkinson’s?

Answer 4

L-DOPA, dopamine agonists, MAO inhibitors, anticholinegics

Question 5

side effects of L-DOPA?

Answer 5

anorexia, nausea, insomnia, agitation, tachycardia, arrhythmias, L-DOPA induced dyskinesia

Question 6

what drug is used with L-DOPA to reduce dyskinesia?

Answer 6

amantadine - enhances dopamine release and increases da synthesis, blocks nmda receptors

Question 7

how does COMT improve treament with L-DOPA?

Answer 7

improves the duration of action - can use a lower dose

Question 8

how do MAOb inhibitors work in parkinson’s treatment?

Answer 8

DA metabolised by MAO, increases central dopamine function

Question 9

side effects of MAOb inhibitors?

Answer 9

constipation, headache, nausea, sleep issues

Question 10

how do anticholinergic agents work in treating parkinson’s?

Answer 10

antagonise increased cholinergic activity in the striatum

Question 11

side effects of anticholinergics?

Answer 11

dry mouth, blurred vision, GI disturbance, tachycardia, dizziness