PD Flashcards
Parkinson’s Disease is _______, ___________, and ___________________
chronic, progressive, neurodegenerative
Why is dopamine important in terms of movement? (3)
- Important for smooth, coordinated, controlled movements
- Death of dopaminergic neurons -> messages telling the body how and when to move are delivered slowly or incompletely
- Individual is unable to initiate and control movements in a normal way
What is the pathophysiology of PD?
Progressive death of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra (part of the basal ganglia)
What are the 2 components that make up the substantia nigra? What does each component produce?
- Pars compacta - dopamine producing
- Pars reticulata - GABA neurons
What are 2 subtypes of PD?
- Tremor-predominant subtype
- Often younger PD patients
- Typically have a slower, more benign course of progression - Akinetic/rigid subtype
- Often have a more rapid rate of progression of motor symptoms
- Particularly in older patients – more likely to develop dementia
What are 3 protective factors against PD?
- Cigarette smoking
- High coffee consumption
- Intensive exercise
What are 3 risk factors for PD?
- Family history -> genetic component
- Pesticide exposure (rural, farmer, drink well water)
- Repeated head injuries
For the hallmark movement symptoms of PD, remember TRAP. What is that?
Tremor
Rigidity
Akinesia/Bradykinesia
Postural instability
What antinauseant/prokinetic agent can cause secondary Parkinsonism? What is a safer alternative?
- Metoclopramide
Safer alternative = domperidone
The key motor features of PD can be remembered as the 3S’s. What are they?
Slow
Stiff
Shaky
What are 3 typical APs that can cause secondary Parkinsonism?
- Chlorpromazine
- Haloperidol
- Prochlorperazine
What is the Movement Disorder Society Clinical Diagnostic Criteria for PD?
(What must be present? Need at least 1 of what? What are the supportive criteria?)
- Must be present - bradykinesia
- At least 1 of - rest tremor or rigidity
- Supportive criteria:
- Clear response to dopaminergic treatment
- Levodopa-induced dyskinesias
- Olfactory loss
What are the non-motor symptoms of PD that often precede motor symptoms? (5)
Hyposmia – loss of sense of smell
Constipation
Depression
Fatigue
REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder
What are some of the later non-motor PD symptoms? (5)
- Psychiatric disturbances – delusions and hallucinations
- Sialorrhea (drooling)
- Sexual dysfunction
- Autonomic dysfunction
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Urinary and fecal incontinence - Cognitive impairment and dementia
What are 3 alternative atypical APs that are less likely to cause secondary Parkinsonism?
- Quetiapine
- Clozapine
- Pimavanserin
Which PD med is the effective cornerstone of therapy?
Levodopa
What does PD pharmacotherapy primarily focus on?
Increasing dopamine levels (directly or indirectly)
What are some medications classes that cause secondary Parkinsonism? (4)
- Typical APs
- Atypical APs
- Antinauseants/prokinetics
- Miscellaneous
- Lithium
- DVP
What are the 6 pharmacological classes of medications for PD management?
- Levodopa
- Dopamine Agonists
- MAO-B Inhibitors (MAOIs)
- Amantadine
- COMT Inhibitors
- Anticholinergics
What are 4 atypical APs that can cause secondary Parkinsonism?
- Risperidone
- Olanzapine
- Aripiprazole
- Ziprasidone
True or False? PD treatment modifies disease progression
False - no PD treatment modifies disease progression - symptomatic treatment only
What are the non-pharm treatment options for PD? (6)
- Physical Therapy: Help maintain motor function
- Occupational Therapy: Adaptive equipment, home safety
- Speech Therapy:
- Assist with soft speech
- Assess swallowing safety - Hearing, vision, and dental care
- Psychological Support
- Surgery
Initially, levodopa treatment is universally effective for: (2 - symtpoms)
- Bradykinesia
- Usually start seeing response within days - Rigidity
- Maximal improvement in ~2 weeks
What are the goals of therapy for PD? (4)
- Reduce signs and symptoms of PD (both motor and non-motor)
- Minimize complications of drug therapy
- Maintain independence
- Improve/maintain quality of life
What are the non-motor symptoms of PD that are seen early in the disease course? (4)
“Flat affect”
Micrographia
Hypophonia – soft speech
Dry eyes
Why is levodopa given in combination with a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor? (2)
- Prevents conversion of levodopa to dopamine outside of the brain
- Enhances efficacy
- Reduces adverse effects - Both carbidopa and benserazide cannot cross BBB
- Levodopa → crosses BBB → converted to dopamine via decarboxylase
Levodopa is always used in combination with?
A peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor (carbidopa or benserazide)
The most common adverse reactions of Vyalev SQ infusion are? (3)
- Injection-site reactions
- Dyskinesias
- Psychosis
What 3 things decrease bioavailability of levodopa?
- Protein
- Iron
- Antacids
After ~5 years of treatment, complications of levodopa therapy develop. What are they? (4)
- Wearing off - meds not lasting as long as they used to
- On-off phenomena
- Freezing - inability to move
- Dyskinesias - abnormal, uncontrollable, involuntary movements
Levodopa has variable effect on which PD symptom?
Tremor
What is on-off phenomena?
Fine one minute, drug effect has totally worn off the next
Which symptoms of PD is levodopa less likely to help with? (2)
- Poor balance
- Non-motor symptoms
What are the adverse effects of levodopa? (5)
- Nausea, stomach upset
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Vivid dreams
- Confusion/hallucinations –> usually not until later stages
How is duodopa gel infusion administered?
Via enteral PEG-J tube
- Connected to a pump, which delivers low and constant doses of Duodopa
What are the 3 non-ergot derivative dopamine agonist drugs? (3)
- Pramipexole (Mirapex)
- Ropinirole (Requip)
- Rotigotine (Neupro) - transdermal patch
New formulations of levodopa have been developed to address some of the limitations with oral administration. What are they?
- Duodopa - levo/carbidopa intestinal gel
- Vyalev - foslevodopa/foscarbidopa SQ infusion
- Levodopa inhaled capsules (not in Canada, don’t worry about this one)
What is the MOA of dopamine agonists?
Mimic the effect of dopamine by stimulating post-synaptic dopamine receptors