Dan, a 50-year-old man, is experiencing muscle stiffness and shaky hands. In the office, you also note his stooped posture. Tests reveal a deficiency of dopamine levels, which helps confirm a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Knowing that there is no cure, Dan is upset and ambivalent about taking medication. How can you help Dan understand his condition and how his medication, levodopa plus carbidopa (Sinemet) will help him?
To make Dan understand his condition:
Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter in the brain. This chemical acts like a messenger molecule and tells another part of the brain when you want to move a part of the body. Apart from movement, dopamine also plays a role in your behaviour and emotional responses. Dopamine is produced by an area of our brain called substantia nigra. When this dopamine producing cells start dying, it causes your dopamine levels to drop. When it gets too low, you can't control your movements. This is the condition with you Dan. Though it doesn't have a permanent cure, but don't worry Dan, cause the treatment can keep off the symptoms and better your life.
The treatment:
Dan, the drug we are giving you i.e., Sinemet is a combination of Levodopa and Carbidopa. Levodopa is the precursor of dopamine. When Levodopa gets broken down, it is converted to dopamine,, by which it can perform the role of dopamine in your brain. What Carbidopa does is that, it prevents the breakdown of Levodopa outside the brain, so that your brain can avail the maximum effect of Levodopa. Once you take it, it will start it's effect within a period of 10-15 minutes and the effect lasts as long as 5-6 hours. This drug is gonna be your shot at a better life, Dan.
Dan, a 50-year-old man, is experiencing muscle stiffness and shaky hands. In the office, you also note his stooped postu...
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...