Parkinsons

Question 1

why is levodopa paired with carbidopa

Answer 1

carbidopa blocks the enzyme needed to convert levodopa into dopamine in the PNS because carbidopa does not cross the BBB

Question 2

what does carbidopa do

Answer 2

blocks the enzyme needed to convert levodopa into dopamine

Question 3

food interaction

Answer 3

want to avoid high protein meals

Question 4

why do we want to avoid high protein meals with levodopa

Answer 4

levodopa is not a lipid soluble substance so in order for it to cross the BBB it needs to go via a amino acid pump and when we have high protein meals the amino acids from the meal are going to compete and could lead to the drug getting not fully absorbed

Question 5

on and off vs wearing off

Answer 5

wearing off is when the drug stops working earlier and earlier due to the continual breakdown of pathways
on/off is when there is a sudden onset of symptoms which are random and severe and need an agonist to treat

Question 6

main side effect of levodopa

Answer 6

dyskinesia

Question 7

main side effect of dopamine receptor agonists

Answer 7

hallucinations and impulse control disorders

Question 8

main side effect of centrally acting anticholinergics

Answer 8

anti SLUD
focus issues
memory issues
drowsiness

Question 9

dopamine precursor

Answer 9

levodopa

Question 10

dopamine agonists

Answer 10

pramipexole
ropinirole

Question 11

anticholinergic agents

Answer 11

benztrpoine

Question 12

why doesn’t pure dopamine affect parkinsons

Answer 12

does not cross the blood brain barrier

Question 13

levodopa

Answer 13

dopamine precursor

Question 14

pramipexole

Answer 14

dopamine agonist

Question 15

ropinirole

Answer 15

dopamine agonist

Question 16

benztropine

Answer 16

anticholinergic agent