Parkinson's Disease Flashcards
what is the cause of Parkinson’s Disease
loss of dopaminergic signaling in the nigrostriatal part of the brain.
what is Levodopa
precursor to dopamine. Your body uses levodopa to make dopamine.
Why can’t you give dopamine to a patient with Parkinson’s?
Dopamine cannot get through the blood brain barrier.
How does Levodopa get into the brain?
Levodopa is an amino acid so it gets in via amino acid pumps.
What drug is ALWAYS given with levodopa
Carbidopa
What does Carbidopa do?
Carbidopa stops the conversion of levodopa to dopamine.
It cannot get through the blood brain barrier which would still allow levodopa to turn to dopamine in the brain but not in the rest of the body.
Side effects of Levodopa
DYSKINESIA (involuntary muscle movement) is the most common.
Nausea/vomiting, orthostatic hypertension, psychosis, sedation, increased melanoma risk, discoloration of sweat and urine.
Dopamine Agonists
Pramipexole (mirapex)
Ropinirole (ReQuip)
What do dopamine agonists do?
these drugs act like dopamine and target certain dopamine receptors.
Side effects of Dopamine agonists
Hallucinations, sleepiness, orthostatic hypotension, impulse control disorder, Nausea/vomiting and syncope.
Anticholinergic Agents
Benztropine (Cogentin)
What do anticholinergics do?
Block acetylcholine receptors so that they don’t stimulate GABA as often in the brain.
What affect does Dopamine have on GABA in the brain?
Inhibits it.
What effect does acetylcholine have on GABA in the brain?
stimulates it.
Adverse effects of Anticholinergic agents
Peripheral anti-muscarinic effects, drowsiness, inattention, confusion, delusions, memory problems.
