Archive for the ‘Parkinson’s Disease Drug’ Category
Parkinson’s disease, restless legs syndrome and Requip
Requip is a dopamine agonist, which means that it increases the levels of dopamine in the brain, which makes it a perfect treatment for Parkinson’s disease, as well as restless legs syndrome.
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system. While it has been established that the symptoms and the complications of the disease stem from the death of cells in the midbrain which contain dopamine, the exact reason why these cells die is still unknown. Parkinson’s disease usually affects people above the age of 50, although it is possible to start suffering from Parkinson’s disease earlier, as well. The earliest symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include shaking, slowness of movement, rigidity and difficulties walking and maintaining a gait. In the later stages, the behavioral and cognitive problems arise as well and dementia is a common development of Parkinson’s in later stages. Certain risks have been observed, like for example, increased risk in people who are exposed to certain kinds of pesticides and decreased risk in smokers.
Restless legs syndrome is a condition that pretty much speaks for itself. This neurological disorder causes involuntary moves and an irresistible urge to move certain parts of the body in order to stop odd sensations and uncomfortable sensations. There are different factors that can contribute to development of restless legs syndrome, but the main problem are decreased levels of dopamine, just like in cases of Parkinson’s disease.
Requip increases the levels of dopamine and helps treat or at least manage these conditions.
Important facts on Requip treatment
One of the most important things to keep in mind when taking Requip is that this medication can cause you to suddenly fall asleep without a warning, even when participating in dangerous activities. If this should happen to you, report this to your doctor who will know what the best course of action is. Also, keep in mind that many conditions can be affected by and can affect your Requip treatment, like for example heart, kidney and liver diseases, hypertension and hypotension, mental illnesses and compulsive behaviors. Depending on whether you are being treated for Parkinson’s disease or restless legs syndrome, you will be prescribed with a specific dosage and schedule that must be observed. It takes some time to establish the perfect dosage for each patient and your doctor will need to titrate the dosage carefully in order to find the right dosage that is going to benefit you the most. In some cases, you may be prescribed with Requip in a starting kit, where every pill is marked for each day. You should take the correct pill each day as the doses are different and supposed to be taken at the exact time. Furthermore, inquire with your healthcare provider about any other aspects of your regimen if there is anything you would like to know, like for example side effects that can be caused by Requip, interactions with other medications and any special precautions that you must take when using Requip.