The role of various forms of treatment in the management of Parkinson's disease.
Each of the various antiparkinsonian agents plays a role in the management of patients in varying stages of the disease. Newly diagnosed patients rarely require any treatment; those with moderate manifestations may benefit from treatment with either amantadine or with anticholinergic agents. Levodopa therapy is indicated in patients with severe disease or when the patient's livelihood or psychologic well-being is threatened by parkinsonian manifestations. Dyskinesia, dementia, or "on-off" phenomena associated with chronic levodopa therapy may be managed by the use of ergot derivatives, drug holidays, and in special circumstances, stereotactic surgery.
D000547:Amantadine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D004876:Ergot Alkaloids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D004876:Ergot Alkaloids; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D007980:Levodopa; D000547:Amantadine