Antiparkinson
Antiparkinsonian drugs, commonly referred to as antiparkinsonians, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to alleviate the symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) and Parkinsonism. Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by the progressive death of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, leading to a variety of motor and non-motor symptoms. The primary therapeutic strategy for these medications revolves around either augmenting dopamine activity or mitigating acetylcholine activity within the central nervous system (CNS).
Mechanism of Action[edit | edit source]
The central approach of antiparkinsonian drugs is to restore the balance between dopamine and acetylcholine in the CNS, thus countering the dopaminergic neuron degeneration observed in PD patients.
Dopaminergic Precursors: These compounds are precursors to dopamine and are often preferred due to their ability to bypass undesirable sympathomimetic side effects.
Selective Monoamine Oxidase B Inhibitors (MAOB Inhibitors): These drugs deter the metabolism of dopamine by MAOB, subsequently increasing dopamine concentrations in the brain.
COMT Inhibitors: By preventing dopamine metabolism via catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT), these agents elevate dopamine levels in the brain.
Dopamine Receptor Agonists: These drugs function by directly enhancing the activity of the dopamine system.
Anticholinergics - Antimuscarinics: Utilized primarily to avert hyperkinesia, these agents counteract excessive acetylcholine activity.
Side Effects[edit | edit source]
As with many medications, antiparkinsonian drugs can have side effects. These might include nausea, dizziness, orthostatic hypotension, hallucinations, and sleep disturbances. Patients should consult with their healthcare provider to understand potential side effects and their management.
Future Research[edit | edit source]
Current research in Parkinson's disease is exploring potential disease-modifying therapies that might slow or halt the progression of the disease, rather than just alleviating symptoms. This includes investigation into genetic factors, neuroprotective agents, and advanced drug delivery methods.
See Also[edit | edit source]
- Parkinson's disease
- Dopamine
- Acetylcholine
- Central nervous system
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Parkinsonism
 | This drug article relating to the nervous system is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
