FAQs

Men are about twice as likely to get Parkinson’s compared with women. However, women tend to have a faster disease progression.

The risk of Parkinson’s disease may be higher in people who have been exposed to certain chemicals — such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) — toxins, heavy metals, pesticides and herbicides, and air pollution. People with a history of traumatic brain injury are also at increased risk of…

Parkinson’s disease most frequently occurs in adults age 60 and older, and it is roughly twice as common in men than in women. People with a family history of the disease also may be at increased risk.

In the vast majority of Parkinson’s disease cases, there is no clear cause. The condition is thought to result from a combination of genetic changes and environmental factors that lead to the progressive dysfunction and death of neurons responsible for producing the neurotransmitter dopamine, called dopaminergic neurons, which ultimately causes…

In about 5% to 10% of cases, Parkinson’s disease is caused by a genetic mutation. However, most cases of Parkinson’s are not associated with a known genetic cause.

Treatment with Neupro has been associated with weight gain, which can be due to fluid retention and also can be associated with binge eating. While Neupro treatment has not been directly associated with hair loss, this side effect has been observed upon using certain dopamine agonists. Patients should talk with…

Finding the right dose that effectively manages symptoms may take a few weeks, as dosages need to be adjusted for each individual patient. However, in the trials that supported Neupro’s approval, improvements in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease were evident as early as the first week of treatment. Patients should…

Patients taking Neupro may experience extreme drowsiness or sudden episodes of falling asleep during daily activities. It is important for those starting the treatment to avoid driving or engaging in potentially dangerous activities until they understand how the medication affects them. If patients experience increased sleepiness or fall asleep without…

Animal studies suggest Neupro may be harmful to a developing fetus, but its effects on pregnant patients remain unknown due to a lack of clinical data. Consequently, the safety of Neupro during pregnancy is uncertain. Patients are advised to consult their healthcare provider if they intend to become pregnant while…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Neupro in July 2007 to treat people with early-stage Parkinson’s disease. This indication was later extended, in April 2012, to include treatment of those with advanced disease. Neupro was the first patch formulation available for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease in the…