Parkinson's Treatment Flashcards
Goals of therapy for PD include…
Reducing signs and symptoms, both motor + non-motor
Minimize complications of drug therapy
Maintain independence
Improve/maintain quality of life
Non-pharmacological treatment for PD may include…
Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy
Hearing, vision, dental care
Psychological support
Pharmacotherapy focuses on ____ levels.
Increasing dopamine levels
Cornerstone of PD pharmacotherapy is…
Levodopa
Levodopa is always used in combination with…
Peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor - carbidopa, benserazide
The purpose of peripheral decarboxylase inhibitors is to…
Prevent conversion of levodopa to dopamine outside of the brain - enhance efficacy and reduce AE’s
The BBB relates to levodopa and the decarboxylase inhibitors via…
Ability to cross the BBB. Carbidopa and benserazide cannot cross the BBB,while levodopa can, and gets coverted to dopamine via decarboxylase
Initially, levodopa treatment is universally effective for…
Bradykinesia + rigidity
With initial tx of levodopa, a response is usually seen…
Within days - maximal improvement in ~2 weeks
Levodopa is less likely to help with…
Poor balance, non-motor symptoms
Variable effect on tremor
Bioavailability of levodopa is decreased with…
Co-administration of protein, iron, and antacids
Dosing of levodopa should be ____ to prevent…
Tirated slowly, prevent nausea/dizziness
CR form of levodopa is primarily used at ____. This is due to…
Bedtime/overnight - has delayed and unpredictable onset
AE’s with levodopa may include…
Nausea, GI upset
Dizziness - orthostatic hypotension
Fatigue
Vivid dreams
Confusion/hallucinations (later stages)
Nausea + GI upset with levodopa can be minimized via…
Give with food, but be aware that protein decreases levodopa absorption which may become relevant
Refractory nausea = domperidone
Complications of levodopa therapy start to develop after…
5 years of treatment
Complications of levodopa therapy include…
Wearing off
On-off phenomena (fine one minute, drug worn off the next)
Freezing, inability to move
Dyskinesias; abnormal, uncontrollable, involuntary movements
Dyskinesia = twisting, jerking, twisting, writhing movements; affect different areas
Dyskinesias with levodopa result from…
Increased sensitivity of brain to levodopa as PD progresses; most common shortly after a dose
Other formulations of levodopa that were developed to address some of the oral limitations included…
Intestinal gel infusion
Subcutaneous infusion
Inhaled capsules
The levocarb gel infusion (Duodopa) is administered via…
Enteral - PEG-J tube, delivering low and constant doses of levocarb
Levocarb gel infusion helps with PD by…
Reducing off-time by ~2 hours per day, without increasing dyskinesias
Levocarb subcutaneous infusion administers…
Low and constant doses of levocarb; connected to a pump
Most common AE’s with the levocarb subcutaneous infusion include…
Injection-site reactions
Dyskinesias
Psychosis
Levodopa inhaled capsules are used…
PRN for unexpected off-periods or delayed onset
Dopamine agonists that we use include…
Non-ergot derivatives
Pramipexole
Ropinirole
Rotigotine (transdermal patch)
We do not use the dopamine agonists that are ergot derivatives such as bromocriptine or cabergoline because of…
Pulmonary and cardiac valve toxicities
Dopamine agonists MOA is…
Mimic effect of dopamine by stimulating post-synaptic dopamine receptors
Dopamine agonists may be used as initial therapy for these patients…
Young PD patients under 60, to “save” levodopa for later
Pros and cons with using dopamine agonists as initial therapy include…
Pros: less risk of motor complications seen with levodopa
Cons: Less effective for motor symptoms and more AE’s compared to levodopa
Dopamine agonists are not the preferred agents for older adults, due to…
Poor tolerability
Dopamine agonists may be used for add-on tx, when…
Motor complications develop if refractory/intolerant to other options
Dopamine agonists also have an indication for ____ besides PD.
Restless legs syndrome
AE’s of dopamine agonists include…
Nausea, GI upset
Orthostatic hypotension
Hallucinatrions + confusion
Drowsiness, sudden sleep attacks
Leg swelling
Impulse control disorders
Worse than levodopa
The only dopamine agonist that needs to be dose-adjusted in renal impairment is…
Pramipexole
Apomorphine is…
A very potent dopamine agonist, used for rescue therapy (freezing)
The two forms of apomorphine are…
Injectable (Movapo) and sublingual (Kynmobi)