Parkinsons Disease - ModernMedicine

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Impulse Control Disorders Common in Parkinson's Disease

Impulse control disorders are fairly common in people with Parkinson's disease and are associated with several clinical and demographic variables -- particularly dopamine-replacement therapies, according to research published in the May issue of the Archives of Neurology.

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New Parkinson's disease pipeline needs to offer improved quality of life, balanced with cost containment

Parkinson's disease, which decreases the amount of dopamine in the brain, affects about 1 million Americans. Available medical therapy cannot modify the progression of the disease; medications have only been shown to alleviate its symptoms.

New Tool: Rx Adherence Predictor

Now you can determine in advance the likelihood of a patient filling and staying on their medications. This tool can support your ability to prioritize and target patients who may benefit from counseling about the importance of maintaining your prescribed drug regimen.

Parkinson's disease: A review

Parkinson's disease usually affects people over the age of 50. About 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease each year, with more than half a million Americans affected at any given time. Pharmacists should be able to explain the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of the disease, identify potential complications, discuss current nonpharmacologic therapies and pharmacotherapies, and recommend appropriate treatment strategies.

An integrated model for palliative care

The words "hospice" and "palliative care" have long made parents cringe -- and they might scare off some pediatricians, too.

Rotigotine: The first transdermal nonergot-derived dopamine agonist for the treatment of Parkinson disease

Parkinson disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting approximately 1% of people aged >60 years. Levodopa has long been the cornerstone of PD treatment, but many patients receiving long-term levodopa therapy experience dyskinesia and motor fluctuations. Dopamine agonists act directly on dopamine receptors and are associated with a lower incidence of dyskinesias. There are 2 subclasses of dopamine agonists: ergot-derived and nonergot-derived. The use of ergot-derived dopamine agonists has declined in recent years due to the agents' association with valvular heart disease. Nonergot-derived dopamine agonists such as ropinirole and pramipexole are used more widely in the treatment of PD. Rotigotine is a nonergot-derived dopamine agonist that was approved by FDA on May 9, 2007, for the treatment of early-stage idiopathic PD. Rotigotine is the first approved nonergot-derived dopamine agonist that is delivered continuously through a transdermal silicone-based patch that is replaced..