HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

How Can Parkinson's Disease Be Treated In An Elderly?

default
Posted on Tue, 21 Aug 2018
Question: My wife is 83 and showing advance signs of Parkinson disease; what can I do to help her and still
survive her behavior that antagonizes me so much?

signed Don at (707) 277-9167
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (42 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
You can reduce the "culprit" drugs too.

Detailed Answer:

Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.

I have noted your wife's clinical details. Based on this, she is suffering from psychosis, which could be either due to advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) or due to adverse effects of Parkinson's medications. If she is on trihexiphenidyl, pramipexole, ropinirole or levodopa, it may be worthwhile reducing their doses. Doing so, would reduce the hallucinations, agitation and other psychotic features.

Quetiapine is a good drug for treating PD-psychosis, however, it may worsen the motor symptoms of PD. If available, you can use pimavanserin (nuplazid), which was recently approved by FDA for treating hallucinations and delusions in PD patients.

Hope I have answered your query.

Take care

Dr. Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Sudhir Kumar

Neurologist

Practicing since :1994

Answered : 6232 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
How Can Parkinson's Disease Be Treated In An Elderly?

Brief Answer: You can reduce the "culprit" drugs too. Detailed Answer: Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. I have noted your wife's clinical details. Based on this, she is suffering from psychosis, which could be either due to advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) or due to adverse effects of Parkinson's medications. If she is on trihexiphenidyl, pramipexole, ropinirole or levodopa, it may be worthwhile reducing their doses. Doing so, would reduce the hallucinations, agitation and other psychotic features. Quetiapine is a good drug for treating PD-psychosis, however, it may worsen the motor symptoms of PD. If available, you can use pimavanserin (nuplazid), which was recently approved by FDA for treating hallucinations and delusions in PD patients. Hope I have answered your query. Take care Dr. Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist