Skip to contentAnticholinergics: Trihexyphenidyl, Benztropine. Brandnames in India: Pacitane, Parkin etc… How do these medications work? Dopamine has an enemy in the brain, called Acetylcholine. Acetylcholine actually is a good chemical with a lot of beneficial effects, but one of the things it does is to reverse some of the actions of Dopamine. These medications are anticholinergic. … Read more
============================================= People with Parkinson’s disease may be afraid of being “trapped” in difficult situations: – What if I go to a marriage and start to have a tremor? – What if I am travelling and develop sudden slowness? Luckily, there are “On-Demand” therapies for such situations: Sublingual Apomorphine ======================= – You place a thin film … Read more
What is the meaning of “Tremor”? Tremor is a medical term that means to-and-fro shaking of a body part. We doctors describe it as a pendulum-like shaking, like the pendulum of a clock (or a metronome). Other abnormal movements are known. For example, sudden jerks of the body or arms are called myoclonus. Other abnormal … Read more
What causes Constipation in Parkinson’s disease? Parkinson’s disease affects nerves going to the intestines. As a result, the intestines, just like the rest of the body, move slowly in Parkinson’s disease. This is the major reason why almost all patients of Parkinson’s disease also have constipation. Patients with Parkinson’s disease may also find it difficult … Read more
The medications we have for Parkinson’s disease are very effective in controlling the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. But wouldn’t it be great to have some intervention that would slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease? The process of slowing down Parkinson’s disease by preventing further death of Dopamine-producing cells is called “Neuroprotection”. There are no approved … Read more
Allow me to give you the Patient Criteria for a good DBS candidate upfront. You are the ideal DBS candidate if you fulfil all the following: Go Ahead with DBS Stop & re-consider 1. Your life is significantly hampered, despite taking proper medications 2. If the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is sure, and there are … Read more
India Today Magazine - 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Outlook India Magazine - 2021, 2023
Ex-Assistant Professor, University of Alabama, USA
