Medication focus of Parkinson workshop in city

BY GILLIAN SLADE ON APRIL 20, 2016.

Carin Jensen, a certified geriatric pharmacist, talks medications with a group at the Parkinson's Alberta education day on Monday.

Most medications for Parkinson’s Disease focus on getting dopamine back into the brain, says a certified geriatric pharmacist.

It is always a juggling process to limit the side effects and note interactions with other medications and even foods, said Carin Jensen, pharmacist and speaker at a Parkinson’s education event on Monday in Medicine Hat.

“Start slow (dosage) and go slow,” said Jensen.

Some of the medications to treat Parkinson’s can cause significant behavioural changes including gambling, a zest for shopping, and a lack of sexual inhibitions, said Jensen.

Amantadine is used for Parkinson’s but is sometimes used to prevent influenza, she explained. Nausea and dizziness are some of the side effects.

Anticholinergics are most effective in controlling tremors but many people find the side effects difficult to tolerate, said Jensen.

About 80 per cent of Parkinson’s patients have general pain, something that is not acknowledged very often and treated accordingly, said Jensen. Seeing a pain specialist is recommended. Counselling can play a part too and also being part of a support group. 

A range of physical therapy programs for people with Parkinson’s are very effective but the problem is they are not available in every community, said Jensen. 

Over time about 50 per cent of people with Parkinson’s will develop dementia. Some of the medications for Alzheimer’s can make tremors worse in those with Parkinson’s, said Jensen.

Factors that could influence developing Parkinson’s disease are also interesting. Jensen says having West Nile fever is one of the most common triggers for Parkinson’s.

“A type of flu is the number one trigger,” said Jensen.

Jensen has a list of medications that are not good for those with Parkinson’s. These include: haloperidol, metoclopramide, chlorpromazine and risperidone.

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