Drugs used in Parkinsonism and related disorders
- Refer patients with suspected Parkinson’s disease (PD) early, before beginning treatment, to a clinician with relevant expertise, who should be involved in both initiation and ongoing monitoring of drug therapy. Therapy for PD should be multi-disciplinary; drug treatment is only one aspect. Refer to:
- Parkinson’s disease guideline
- Alternative methods of administration for Parkinson’s disease medicines
- Inpatient management of Parkinson's including nil by mouth guidance
- Refer to Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders for antimuscarinic drugs used in Parkinsonism.
- Patient information leaflet Dopamine agonist medication used to treat Parkinson’s and restless legs.
Note: Excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden onset of sleep can occur with dopamine agonists, co-careldopa and co-beneldopa. Warn patients starting treatment with these drugs of the possibility of these effects and of the need for caution when driving or operating machinery. |