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.
Parkinson's disease affects the nerve cells as s result the dopamine levels are decreased leading to symptoms.
The rate of this disease has gradually increased, the current estimated rate is 1lakh patients are diagnosed with Parkinson disease and every year about 6600 cases are found
Men's are more more prone
People aged 50 and above mostly show some sorts of signs and symptoms
People above 80 years are at greater incidence where nearly 1900 cases are among each 1 million people
In general elders above 60 years of age are at risk of Parkinson's disease in Canada
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...
L.C. is a 78-year-old Caucasian man with a 4-year history of Parkinson’s disease (PD). He is a retired engineer, is married, and lives with his wife in a small farming community. He has 4 adult children who live close by. He is taking carbidopa-levodopa, pergolide, and amantadine. L.C. reports that overall he is doing “about the same” as he was at his last clinic visit 6 months ago. He reports that his tremor is about the same, his gait is...
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...
Mrs. Reese is a 36-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease 2 years ago. She was recently admitted to the hospital with an exacerbation of her Crohn’s disease. She was severely malnourished and was found to have complete bowel obstruction with multiple adhesions. She is 5’ 4” tall and weighs 108 pounds, with a usual weight of 122 lbs. She is scheduled for surgery, and undergoes a small bowel resection to remove the diseased bowel and create a temporary...
Mrs. Reese is a 36-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease two years ago. She was recently admitted to the hospital with an exacerbation of her Crohn’s disease. She was severely malnourished and was found to have complete bowel obstruction with multiple adhesions. She is 5’ 4” tall and weighs 108 pounds, with a usual weight of 122 lbs. She is scheduled for surgery, and undergoes a small bowel resection to remove the diseased bowel and create a temporary...