Approved Treatments for Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that leads to the loss of motor control and various non-motor symptoms such as mood disorders, constipation, cognitive impairment, and problems with speech and swallowing.

Symptoms are primarily caused by a lack of a chemical called dopamine in the brain. Because there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s, available treatments are focused on increasing the levels of dopamine in the brains of patients, or on controlling the symptoms themselves.

Some of the therapies that may be prescribed for Parkinson’s patients are summarized below.

Anticholinergic Medications

Anticholinergic medications may be prescribed to help treat some Parkinson’s motor symptoms, such as tremors and rigidity. Anticholinergics may also help with dystonia associated with peak-dose and wearing-off effects of other Parkinson’s medications. They work by blocking the acetylcholine receptors on nerve cells without activating them. This helps reduce the effect of acetylcholine and balance the effect of decreased amounts of dopamine.

COMT Inhibitors

COMT (catechol-o-methyl transferase) inhibitors are a class of medications used in combination with levodopa to treat motor symptoms in Parkinson’s. COMT inhibitors work by blocking the action of enzymes that break down levodopa to extend the time of levodopa activity. Doctors may combine COMT inhibitors with monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitors, which also extend the action of levodopa but work through a different mechanism.

Glutamate Antagonists

Low doses of glutamate antagonists have been shown to slow down the rate of nerve cell loss in the brain, thereby slowing down the progression of Parkinson’s. Glutamate antagonists work by inhibiting the activity of glutamate receptors in the brain. These receptors are broadly classified into two main subtypes: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and 3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptors.

MAO-B Inhibitors

Monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) is an enzyme responsible for the chemical breakdown of dopamine in the brain. MAO-B inhibitors act by inhibiting the activity of this enzyme and therefore slowing the breakdown of dopamine. MAO-B inhibitors can be given either as a monotherapy or they can be combined with carbidopa-levodopa therapy. The use of these medications can delay the reliance on levodopa.

Nourianz

Nourianz (istradefylline) is an add-on medication to treat off episodes in Parkinson’s disease. The oral therapy is approved to treat Parkinson’s patients who are on a carbidopa/levodopa treatment regimen.

Learn more

Dopamine Agonists

In Parkinson’s disease, the dopamine-producing nerve cells degenerate and die, leading to reduced dopamine levels in the brain. Thus, body movements cannot be property regulated and motor function becomes impaired. This leads to the characteristic symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, such as tremors of hands, feet, or the entire body; slowness of movement, (bradykinesia), rigidity, and gait and balance problems.

Dopamine agonists mimic the effect of dopamine by binding to the dopamine receptors. Dopamine agonists are less potent than levodopa but are useful in treating Parkinson’s disease because they can overcome or delay a levodopa-induced side effect called dyskinesia (involuntary movement of the arms, legs, and other body parts), which can severely affect patients’ quality of life.

Several of the dopamine agonists available to treat Parkinson’s are summarized below.

Apokyn

Apokyn (apomorphine) is delivered via injection to treat loss of body movement control in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease between doses of levodopa treatment.

Learn more

Mirapex

Mirapex (pramipexole) is available as immediate release or extended release tablets. It is frequently taken alongside levodopa and can extend the length of time levodopa is active.

Learn more

Neupro Patches

Neupro patches are transdermal patches approved for treating the symptoms of early and advanced stage Parkinson’s. They work by delivering rotigotine through the skin directly into the bloodstream.

Learn more

Ropinirole

Ropinirole hydrochloride is an approved oral therapy used to ease symptoms in people with Parkinson’s disease. The therapy is available only as a generic medication, in either immediate-release or extended-release tablet formulations.

Learn more

Levodopa and Derivatives

Levodopa is one of the main medications used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, such as stiffness and slowness of movement. It’s naturally found in the body and is the precursor of dopamine, a neurotransmitter or signaling molecule that relays electric signals between nerve cells.

Levodopa can be used at all stages of Parkinson’s disease to replace the lost dopamine seen in these patients. It is available in many forms: as controlled or extended-release tablets, as dispersible tablets that can be mixed with water, and as an intestinal gel that is pumped via a tube surgically inserted into the intestine.

To avoid the breakdown of levodopa outside the brain, the treatment is usually given in combination with other medications such as Sinemet (carbidopa), Stalevo (entacapone, or Tasmar (tolcapone). These combination treatments allow more levodopa to reach the brain and help reduce its side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, by decreasing the required dose of medication.

Some of the available therapies that use levodopa are summarized below.

Learn more

Duodopa/Duopa

Duodopa (Duopa in the U.S.) is a formulation of levodopa and carbidopa designed to treat motor fluctuations. It is administered via a tube surgically inserted into the intestines of people with advanced Parkinson’s.

Learn more

Inbrija

Inbrija (CVT-301) is a dry powder inhaled formulation of levodopa approved to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s disease during “off” episodes. It is administered via a specialized hand-held inhaler.

Learn more

Rytary

Rytary is a combination of carbidopa and levodopa contained in extended-release capsules, which provide a longer and more stable mode of action than regular carbidopa and levodopa combinations.

Learn more

Sinemet

Sinomet is an oral therapy containing levodopa and carbidopa. It is available in three strengths with different concentrations of levodopa and carbidopa. A controlled-release formulation is also approved.

Learn more

Stalevo

Stalevo is an oral therapy that contains a combination of three different drugs —carbidopa, levodopa, and entacapone — to treat Parkinson’s disease.

Learn more

Exelon

Exelon (rivastigmine) is a therapy for mild to moderate dementia that is caused by Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. It works to improve nerve cell function in the brain and belongs to a group of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors.

Learn more

Myobloc

Myobloc (rimabotulinumtoxinB) is a medication to treat abnormal head position and neck pain that occurs in adults with cervical dystonia. Myobloc injection can also treat chronic drooling, which can be an issue in Parkinson’s patients.

Learn more

Northera

Northera (droxidopa) is an oral medicine used to treat sensations of dizziness, light-headedness, and a feeling of being on the verge of passing out or actually fainting, all of which can occur in Parkinson’s patients.

Learn more

Nuedexta

Nuedexta (dextromethorphan HBr/quinidine sulfate) is an oral treatment used to treat a spontaneous laughing or crying condition called pseudobulbar affect that can occur in Parkinson’s patients.

Learn more

Nuplazid

Nuplazid (pimavanserin) is an oral medication approved for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease.

Learn more
Books icon

Your Parkinson's Community

Visit the Parkinson’s News Today forums to connect with others in the Parkinson’s community. These forums are designed for patients, caregivers, and medical professionals to discuss issues, ask questions, and share experiences.

View Forums
Speech bubble icon