Mrs. Downs is 55 years old when she was diagnosed with PD (Parkinson’s disease). Her initial symptoms were depression, stooped posture, loss of energy, dragging leg, difficulty walking, tremors, and a loss in her arm swing. Her physician started her on Sinemet® (levodopa-carbidopa combination). While discussing her medication history with her, you find out that she takes a B-complex multivitamin that contains B6. She also tells you that her wife has told her to take some of her phenothiazine (an antipsychotic) since she thinks it may “lift her out of her depressed mood”.
A year has passed, and when you see Mrs. Downs again her symptoms have worsened. She is feeling muscle rigidity, fixed facial expressions, slowed movement, arm numbness, and cognitive difficulty. Her physician has changed her Sinemet® to Stalevo® (levodopa-carbidop-entacopone); he has also added a dopamine agonist (such as pramipexole) and an antidepressant for her mood disorders.
Question: Should palliative care be provided to Mrs. Downs at this stage? Explain why or why not?
Answer:
Yes,palliative care can be provided to Mrs.Downs at this stage. Because palliative care approach can improve the quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease along with active treatment. The National End of Life Care Program implementing care for long term neurological conditions and it includes symptoms management of early stage of Parkinson's disease. Palliative care is mostly advised for the patients with cognitive impairment and decreased response to the treatment. Palliative care also can identify the unmet need of the patient in the advanced stage of Parkinson's disease.
Mrs. Downs is 55 years old when she was diagnosed with PD (Parkinson’s disease). Her initial...
Mrs. Downs is 55 years old when she was diagnosed with PD (Parkinson’s disease). Her initial symptoms were depression, stooped posture, loss of energy, dragging leg, difficulty walking, tremors, and a loss in her arm swing. Her physician started her on Sinemet® (levodopa-carbidopa combination). While discussing her medication history with her, you find out that she takes a B-complex multivitamin that contains B6. She also tells you that her wife has told her to take some of her phenothiazine (an...
Mrs. Downs is 55 years old when she was diagnosed with PD (Parkinson’s disease). Her initial symptoms were depression, stooped posture, loss of energy, dragging leg, difficulty walking, tremors, and a loss in her arm swing. Her physician started her on Sinemet® (levodopa-carbidopa combination). While discussing her medication history with her, you find out that she takes a B-complex multivitamin that contains B6. She also tells you that her wife has told her to take some of her phenothiazine (an...
Mrs. Downs is 55 years old when she was diagnosed with PD (Parkinson’s disease). Her initial symptoms were depression, stooped posture, loss of energy, dragging leg, difficulty walking, tremors, and a loss in her arm swing. Her physician started her on Sinemet® (levodopa-carbidopa combination). While discussing her medication history with her, you find out that she takes a B-complex multivitamin that contains B6. She also tells you that her wife has told her to take some of her phenothiazine (an...
Mrs. Downs is 55 years old when she was diagnosed with PD (Parkinson’s disease). Her initial symptoms were depression, stooped posture, loss of energy, dragging leg, difficulty walking, tremors, and a loss in her arm swing. Her physician started her on Sinemet® (levodopa-carbidopa combination). While discussing her medication history with her, you find out that she takes a B-complex multivitamin that contains B6. She also tells you that her wife has told her to take some of her phenothiazine (an...
Case study: Parkinson’s Disease A 65-year-old patient with a 2-year history of PD has been experiencing an increase in symptoms, especially muscle tremors and rigidity. The patient has been taking carbidopa–levodopa (Sinemet CR) and selegiline since diagnosis. The physician has chosen to add benztropine to the patient’s medication regimen. The nurse is administering the first dose of benztropine and intends to provide patient teaching about the drug and its adverse effects. OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION: Temperature - 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit Weight...