Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition in which nerve cells in the brain’s substantia nigra gradually stop producing dopamine, a chemical messenger that coordinates smooth, controlled movement. As dopamine levels fall, movement becomes harder to initiate and regulate.
Stalevo
Carbidopa, Levodopa, Entacapone
25/100/200mg
Carbidopa, levodopa and entacapone in one film-coated tablet, used in the management of Parkinson's disease. A precursor with two enzyme blockers.
Sinemet CR
25/100mg
Sinemet CR is carbidopa with levodopa 25/100mg in a modified-release tablet for Parkinson's disease, spreading the dose across a longer period.
Key points
- The most recognisable signs are the four cardinal motor features: a resting tremor (often in one hand first), muscle rigidity, slowness of movement (bradykinesia), and postural instability.
- Diagnosis is clinical and considers slowness, stiffness, rest tremor, balance, medicine exposure and features suggesting another parkinsonian disorder.
- Because the underlying problem is dopamine deficiency, most treatments aim to raise or mimic dopamine activity in the brain.
The listings below do not confirm Parkinson’s disease; medicine selection depends on the symptoms causing most difficulty, age, cognition, sleepiness and movement complications.
How Parkinson’s Disease Shows Up
Symptoms usually begin on one side of the body and spread over years. Non-motor features, sleep disturbances, constipation, reduced sense of smell, and mood changes, often appear before the tremor is noticed and can affect daily life as much as the movement problems do. Prevalence rises steeply with age.
Restoring Dopamine: the Core of Treatment
Levodopa is commonly combined with carbidopa to improve delivery to the brain and reduce peripheral adverse effects. Other options include pramipexole, ropinirole and selegiline. Age, symptom priorities, cognition, sleepiness, impulse-control risk and wearing-off patterns all affect selection and monitoring.
Living With Parkinson’s
No current medicine reverses the underlying cell loss, so self-care alongside medication matters considerably. Regular aerobic exercise and physiotherapy have good evidence for slowing functional decline and improving balance. A balanced diet, consistent sleep, and speech therapy (for those experiencing reduced voice volume) each contribute to maintaining independence over time. If mood changes, severe anxiety, or feelings of hopelessness develop alongside motor symptoms, these deserve medical attention in their own right, depression is common in Parkinson’s and treatable.
When to seek urgent care
Seek urgent care for sudden inability to move, swallow or take essential medicines; choking or breathing difficulty; a serious fall; fainting; or an abrupt change in awareness. Sudden one-sided weakness or speech change may be stroke and needs emergency care.