Parkinson's Disease

Dementia and PD…Treatment and Outcomes

At the present time there are no treatments to slow or stop the brain cell damage caused by Parkinson’s disease dementia. Present-day strategies place emphasis on helping symptoms.

If your treatment plan includes medications, it’s imperative to work closely with your physician to recognize the drugs that work best for you and the most effective doses. Treatment plans involving medications include the following concerns:

* Cholinesterase inhibitors drugs are the current support for treating thinking changes in Alzheimer’s. They also may help with Parkinson’s disease dementia symptoms.

* Antipsychotic drugs should be used with caution in Parkinson’s disease dementia. While physicians sometimes prescribe these medications for behavioral symptoms that are evident in Alzheimer’s, they may cause serious side effects in up to 50 percent of those with Parkinson’s disease dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. Side effects may consist of sudden changes in consciousness, impaired swallowing, acute confusion, episodes of delusions or hallucinations, or appearance or deteriorating Parkinson’s symptoms.

see also Parkinsonism Can Cause Chronic Pain

* L-dopa may be prescribed to treat Parkinson’s movement symptoms. However, it can sometimes intensify hallucinations and confusion in those with Parkinson’s dementia or dementia with Lewy bodies.

* Antidepressants may be used to treat depression, which is common in both Parkinson’s disease dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. The most commonly prescribed antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Antidepressants and happiness

* Clonazepam is one medication that could be prescribed to treat REM sleep disorder.

Clonazepam

Like other forms of dementia that destroy brain cells, Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s disease dementia become progressively worse over time and speed of progression varies.

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