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Parkinsonism

Parkinsonism

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Parkinsonism is a condition that causes a combination of the movement abnormalities seen in Parkinson’s disease. These include slowness, stiffness, tremor, and imbalance. However, not everyone who has Parkinsonism has Parkinson’s disease. 

The most common form of Parkinsonism is Idiopathic Parkinson’s. A person who has Parkinsonism will also have another disorder that causes additional neurological symptoms, ranging from dementia to the inability to look up and down.

Symptoms of polio

Symptoms of Parkinsonism 

People with Parkinsonism usually start to develop symptoms at anywhere from age 50 to 80. Parkinson’s disease can cause varying and progressive symptoms throughout its course. Some of the most common symptoms associated with the disease include:

  • Slowed, affected movements
  • Difficulty showing facial expressions
  • Muscle stiffness
  • Tremor, especially on one hand
  • Speech changes

A person with Parkinsonism may have some of these symptoms. Other symptoms of the disease may include:

  • Dementia
  • Rapid onset and progression of symptoms
  • Early problems with balance
  • Issues with the autonomic nervous system, such as problems with controlled movements or spasms
  • Each underlying cause of Parkinsonism, such as dementia with Lewy bodies, also has its own unique set of symptoms.

What Causes Parkinsonism?

Parkinsonism can be caused by Parkinson’s disease itself as well as another underlying condition. Other causes may include:

  • Repeated head trauma, such as injuries sustained in boxing
  • Medications such as those used to treat psychosis, major psychiatric disorders, and nausea
  • Certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as multiple system atrophy, Lewy body dementia, and progressive supranuclear palsy
  • Exposure to toxins, such as cyanide, carbon monoxide, and organic solvents
  • Certain brain lesions, such as tumors, or fluid buildup
  • Metabolic and other disorders, such as Wilson’s disease or chronic liver failure 
Diagnosis for Hypersexuality
diagnose Parkinsonism

How to diagnose Parkinsonism?

  • A doctor will start by taking a person’s health history and reviewing their current symptoms. They will ask for a medication list to determine if any medicines could be causing the symptoms.
  • A doctor will also recommend blood testing to check for underlying potential causes. 
  • In addition, a doctor will also order imaging scans to examine the brain and body for other causes, such as a brain tumor.
  • Doctors can perform a test that tracks the movement of dopamine in the brain. This is known as the DaT-SPECT test. 

Treatment for Parkinsonism

These medications are related to dopamine and can increase the amount of dopamine available in the brain. However, people with Parkinsonism not only have problems producing dopamine but also have damaged or destroyed cells that cannot respond to dopamine. Doctors can find Parkinsonism challenging to treat because the symptoms of the condition do not always respond as well or at all to medications that boost dopamine.

Parkinsonism treatment usually helps reduce the symptoms whenever possible to help them maintain independence. Doctors often recommend physical and occupational therapy because they can help a person keep their muscles strong and improve balance. 

Buy Memantine

Treat Moderate to Severe Dementia

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Memantine is an NMDA receptor antagonist. It is used to treat moderate to severe dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It works by decreasing the abnormal activity in the brain. This oral tablet is available as a brand and generic version in different formulation for easy administration. Compared with other medications in treating Alzheimer’s disease, this drug has fewer side effects.

Memantine can be used as part of combination therapy. You need to take this with other medications in treating dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease. However, this medicine can help slow down the progression of symptoms of moderate to severe AD, but it will not cure it.

What condition does Memantine treat?

Memantine is used for the treatment of moderate to severe dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease especially for those who are intolerant of or have a contraindication to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as Donepezil.

Studies have demonstrated that this drug causes a small improvement in the daily and cognitive function (such as learning, thinking, and memory) among those who have dementia. Dementia is a general term for symptoms that affect mental cognitive tasks such as reasoning, memory, and thinking. It can occur due to a variety of conditions, but the most common is Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia is not a normal part of aging. It happens when there are damages in the brain cells that affect the ability to communicate. As it progresses, it can have a huge impact on the ability to become independent.

Early symptoms of dementia-like forgetfulness can be mild and easy to overlook. As it progresses, confusion and forgetfulness grow. People with dementia find it difficult to recall names and faces while personal care becomes a problem. Signs of dementia include poor decision-making, repetitious questioning, and inadequate hygiene. The behavior continues to change and can turn into aggression and depression.

How does Memantine work?

  • There is increasing evidence that dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease are due to the errors of the signals that pass messages between the brain and the nerve cells.
  • Although the cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not fully understood, it is believed that dementia is due to the excessive activity of glutamate, a natural chemical produce by the body that contributes to the symptoms and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Glutamate acts on the NMDA receptors found on the nerve cells in the brain. Memantine blocks the excessive activity of glutamate and further damage to the nerve cells but still allows some normal activation of the receptors. This decreases the harmful effect of glutamate in the brain and may help improve your symptoms of dementia.

What is the dosage of Memantine?

  • Your dose can be different from other patients. You must follow your doctor’s order or the direction on the prescription label.
  • The typical starting dose in treating dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease among adults is 5 mg a day. Your doctor may likely to increase your dose to 5 mg two times a day or higher. The maximum recommended dose is 20 mg a day.
  • Patients with kidney problems should need a lower dose.

How to take Memantine?

  • Swallow the tablet whole with plenty of water.
  • Take Memantine regularly. To help you remember your dosing schedule, take it at the same time each day.
  • Your doctor may start giving you a low dose and may adjust your dose over time. Your initial dose will ultimately be the smallest effective dose.
  • You may take this medicine with or without food.
  • Take it exactly as directed. Do not take more or less than what is prescribed to you.
  • If you forget to take your dose at the usual time, leave it. Continue with the regular dosing schedule the next day.

What are the precautions in taking Memantine?

  • Use this with caution among patients with:
    • Epilepsy
    • Heart failure
    • Heart attack
    • High blood pressure
    • Severe infections of the urinary tract with Proteus bacteria
    • Kidney problems
  • Do not use this among people with:
    • Decrease liver function
    • Who are pregnant or breastfeeding unless deemed necessary
    • Allergic to any of its ingredients
  • Inform your doctor if:
    • You have a urinary tract infection
    • You ever had a seizure
    • You have difficulty urinating
    • You have liver disease
    • You are having surgery including dental procedures
  • This medication may help improve the ability of a person with AD to think and remember but it will not cure it or prevent the loss of these abilities in the future.
  • Do not stop taking this medicine without informing your doctor. Continue taking it even if you feel well.
  • Using Memantine for a long time is fine as long as it is producing a good effect. However, your doctor will have to assess you regularly.
  • Doctors will only prescribe Memantine if the patient has a caregiver available to monitor the patient and see to it that the patient is taking the medicine.
  • Avoid substantial changes to a patient’s diet like shifting from meat-eating to a strict diet or vice versa as this can affect the removal of the drug from the body.
  • This medicine can interact with several other medications, which can cause different side effects. Tell your doctor if you are using any other medication including prescription and non-prescription drugs, vitamin, minerals, and herbal supplements.

Costs of Generic Memantine vs. Namenda

The generic Memantine is a cheaper drug for the treatment of dementia symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease. It is cheaper than the branded counterpart Namenda.  The generic Memantine 10 mg cost $0.97 per unit price or $58 for 60 tablets. While the brand name Namenda 10 mg cost $7.59 per unit price or $455.40 for 60 tablets.

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Treatment of Mild-to-Moderate Dementia

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Rivastigmine is a Cholinesterase inhibitor. It is used for the relief and treatment of mild-to-moderate dementia symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. It helps improve behavior disorders related to Alzheimer’s disease but it won’t cure or reverse the progression of the disease.  It’s administered orally and eliminated through the urine. This drug is patented in 1985 and came into medical use in 1997.

What condition does Rivastigmine treat?

Doctors prescribed Rivastigmine to treat the symptoms of:

  • Mild to moderately severe dementia in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease that causes brain cells to degenerate and die.
  • Mild to moderately severe dementia in people with Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a type of brain disorder that produces symptoms like stiffness, shakiness, and difficulty with balance, walking, and coordination. It begins gradually and gets worse over time.

How does Rivastigmine work?

  • As a Cholinesterase inhibitor, this medication works by blocking the normal breakdown of acetylcholine in the body. Acetylcholine is a chemical used by the nerve cells to communicate with one another in the brain and the central nervous system or CNS.
  • Reduced acetylcholine affects memory, learning, and other cognitive functions.
  • One of the features of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease appears to have lower than normal acetylcholine in the brain due to the degeneration of the brain cells.
  • The reduced level of this chemical in the brain causes the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
  • Blocking the action of the enzyme that destroys acetylcholine increases the concentration of the chemical acetylcholine in the brain. As a result, there is an improved cognitive process of thinking, learning, and memory. It also improved the daily functioning of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

What is the dosage of Rivastigmine?

How to take Rivastigmine?

  • Take it by mouth with meals in the morning and evening. Take it exactly as directed. Do not take more or less than what is prescribed or for longer than the required time of treatment.
  • Your doctor may start giving you a low dose and will slowly increase your dose not more than once every two weeks.
  • The initial dose is 1.5 mg twice a day.
  • After two weeks of treatment and if well tolerated, your doctor will increase your dose to 3 mg two times a day. The maximum recommended dose is 6 mg twice a day.
  • In case of adverse effects like nausea and vomiting, discontinue treatment for several doses and restart treatment on a lower dose.
  • If an interruption occurs for 3 days, restart treatment at the lower dose. If an interruption occurs for more than 3 days, start treatment at the lowest dose.

What are the precautions in taking Rivastigmine?

  • Like other drugs for treating the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, this drug may only help the brain function properly but it won’t stop the disease from getting worse.
  • Unlike other drugs of its kind, it only works in treating mild to moderately severe dementia. It’s not approved to treat all stages of dementia.
  • Do not use this in:
    • People with severe types of dementia associated with Parkinson or Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia
    • People who are pregnant or breastfeeding
    • People who have a history of allergic skin reactions
    • People who are allergic to the medicine
  • Use this with caution in:
    • People with kidney or liver disease
    • People with a history of seizures
    • People with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD
    • People with a current peptic ulcers
    • People with a difficulty in passing urine
  • Visit your doctor regularly to check the progress of your condition and to make sure that the medicine is working properly.
  • This medicine may cause unwanted side effects like nausea, severe vomiting, weight loss, and diarrhea. It may also increase your risk of having tremors, seizures, ulcers, urinary, and breathing problems.
  • Rivastigmine can cause dizziness and drowsiness. If any of these side effects occur, do not drive or do anything that could be dangerous.
  • It is essential that you inform your doctor what medicines you are taking including those bought without prescriptions, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
  • Do not use this medicine with other medicines that increase the activity of acetylcholine.
  • Pregnant women should not use this medicine unless absolutely necessary. Breastfeeding women should not also use this unless deemed necessary.

Costs of Generic Rivastigmine vs. Exelon

Rivastigmine is a cheap generic medication that helps relieve and treat the symptoms of dementia associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. It’s cheaper than the brand counterpart Exelon. Rivastigmine 1.5 mg cost $0.55 per unit price or $33 for 60 pills. While the brand name Exelon 1.5 mg costs $0.68 per unit price or $40.53 for 60 pills.

Treatment For People Whose Memory Slowly Declines

Treatment For People Whose Memory Slowly Declines

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Nootropil is an oral brain supplement. It has the ability to improve your memory and certain measures of brain. It is an effective treatment for people whose memory slowly declines.

Nootropil helps improve your ability to remember. It enhances your logical thoughts and creativity. It can also improve the ability of your brain to store knowledge and information. If your memory is slowly declining, this medication is a popular choice.

This “smart drug” is safe and well-tolerated. It is non-toxic. Even if you will take 10 grams at a time, there is no risk for overdose.

The generic name of Nootropil is Piracetam. You can buy Nootropil in the US even without any prescription from your doctor.

What condition does Nootropil treats?

Nootropil can treat:

  1. Dementia
  2. Dyslexia
  3. Breath-holding spells in children

How does Nootropil works?

Nootropil is a remarkably smart drug. It works by increasing the activity of a certain chemical in the brain. This chemical in involved in memory functions such as:

  • Allowing the transfer of chemicals to be more effective
  • Increasing the flow of blood and oxygen in your brain

What is the dose in taking Nootropil?

The standard dose is 1600 mg three times a day. However, the dose may vary.

  • Children with dyslexia and breath-holding spell

The recommended dose is 40-100 mg per kg body weight.  Most of the time, 40-50 mg/ kg is used.

  • Adults

The recommended dose is 1200-4800 mg a day.  The maximum effective dose is 1600 mg taken three times a day.

How to take Nootropil?

  • Read the product label. The label will give you more information about the medicine.
  • Take the medicine as directed.
  • Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. Do not chew or crush the medicine. This medication is also available in liquid form. Ask your doctor if you find it difficult to swallow tablets.
  • Take the medicine with or without food.
  • For liquid medication, do not mix it with other liquids.
  • For missed dose, take the medicine as soon as you remember.

What are the precautions in taking Nootropil?

Tell your doctor if you have:

  • Health problems such as:
  1. Blood clotting problems
  2. Kidney and liver problems
  3. Unusual bleeding problems
  • You’re taking any medicines
  • Allergic reactions to this medicines
  • You are pregnant

Do not take Nootropil while you’re drinking alcoholic beverages.

Costs of Generic Piracetam vs Nootropil

The generic brand Piracetam is cheaper than the brand name Nootropil. Piracetam 1200 mg costs $0.97 per unit price or $29.00 for 30 tabs. While the branded Nootropil 1200 mg costs $20.93 per unit price or $627.90 for 30 tablets.

Alzheimer’s disease

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Alzheimer’s disease is a common type of Dementia. The term “Dementia” is used to describe the loss of memory and trouble handling things such as thinking and reasoning.  People with this type of disease have a hard time responding to their daily activities.

Dr. Alois Alzheimer first discovered the “Alzheimer’s Disease” in 1906. Having this condition unable a person to respond likes normal people. Extra care is needed because some parts of their brain control their thoughts and memory.

CAUSES

There is no exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease. Environmental and Lifestyle are factors that contribute to this condition. Alzheimer’s disease is capable of damaging the brain and its brain cells. It can caused a person’s brain to become smaller. There are two types of abnormalities that occur in the brain: Plaques and Tangles.

SYMPTOMS

Memory problems are the first signs of having Alzheimer’s disease. This condition is not normal in aging. A person with this disease may experience the following:

  • Memory loss, or unable to remember familiar places
  • Asking and repeating the same questions
  • Trouble handling money
  • Misplacing things that are being used regularly
  • Changing mood/mood swings
  • Repeating things you do over and over
  • Forgetting things and having trouble to remember later
  • Trouble to respond in daily activities
  • Confusion of time and place

Experiencing the above symptoms doesn’t mean you have Alzheimer’s disease. It is better to consult a Physician. Seeking doctor’s advice may help you develop a plan for your care.

TREATMENT

Alzheimer’s disease has no cure. Medications are useful to help treat mental functions. Caregivers can also help improve the life of a person having this kind of condition. Treatments can be done in different ways:

  • Help them to maintain mental function
  • Manage their behavioral symptoms
  • Delaying the symptoms of the Alzheimer’s Disease

MEDICATIONS

Cholinesterase inhibitors and Memantine (Namenda) are drugs used to treat mental function.

Cholinesterine inhibitors – is a medicine that helps in communicating cell to cell in the brain. These are the common forms of this drug.

  • Donepezil (Aricept)
  • Galantamine (Razadyne)
  • Rivastigmine (Exelon)

Memantine (Namenda) – slows down the progression of the symptoms. It is used to lessen the severe forms of the disease.

Caring for a person with this disease at home can be a hard task to do. Each day brings a new obstacle to the caregivers that cope with the behavioral change of a person. Alzheimer’s disease needs extra care as the disease gets worse day by day.

BURDEN OF ALZHEIMER’S

Alzheimer’s disease has an increasing rate of death, unlike other diseases. This condition has shown to be underreported on death certificates. It’s one of the top 10 causes of death in the US and it’s the 6th leading cause of death among adults.

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Treating of Alzheimer’s Type Dementia

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Alzheimer disease- It is a type of neuro-degenerative disease. Symptoms include,

  • Difficulty in remembering recent events.
  • Problems with language.
  • Easily getting lost.
  • Mood swings.
  • Loss of motivation.
  • Unable to manage self-care.
  • Behavioral issues.

No treatment stop or reverse its progression. But treatment may temporarily improve symptoms to deal with daily activities.

Memantine HCl is used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s type dementia.

How does Memantine HCl work?

It is in the class of drug called as NMDA (N- methyl-D-aspartate) receptor antagonist. Glutamate is a protein necessary for learning and memory processes in the brain. It stimulates NMDA receptors to produce calcium. The increase in glutamate level increases the concentration in the central Nervous system. This, in turn, damage the neuronal cell.

Memantine protects brain cells by blocking the effect of excess glutamate.

How to take Memantine HCl?

Memantine HCl is available in the form of tablets of 5 mg and 10 mg.

Adult dosage.

  1. Initial dosage- 5 mg one time in a day.
  2. Maximum dosage- 20 mg in a day in divided doses.

Children dosage: It is not recommended to use in children younger than 18 years.

Comments:

  1. Increase the dose with an increment of 5 mg at an interval of 1 week.
  2. You can take the tablet with or without food.
  3. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.

What are the uses of Memantine HCl?

  1. It is used to treat moderate to severe dementia caused due to Alzheimer’s disease.
  2. It may improve the ability to think and remember for those with above disease.
  3. Decreases the abnormal activity in the brain.
  4. Improve the ability to perform daily functions.
  5. The medication may be used for some other reason. Ask your doctor.

What are the precautions in taking Memantine HCl?

It is necessary to take care in a certain condition. Inform your doctor if you are/have,

  • Allergic to the above drug.
  • Allergic to other drugs of the same class.
  • Liver disease.
  • Poor kidney function.
  • Severe urinary tract Infections.
  • Dental or any other surgery.
  • Confirm its use in pregnancy and breast feeding.
  • Limit alcohol.

The drug may make you feel drowsy. Be alert while driving, using machinery or other such activities.

Inform your doctor regarding all other medication you take. This may avoid drug interactions.

Cost of Memantine HCl (Generic and Brand)

Brand drugs are costlier. They spend a huge amount of advertising, packaging, and pricing. A big part is also invested in research and development. Generic drugs do not include these expenditures. Both the types of drugs contain the same active ingredient. They show the same effect. So, it is better to go with generic medicines.

Cost of Generic Memantine HCl.

  1. Pack of 30 tablets of 5 mg costs $ 17, per unit cost is $ 0.57
  2. Pack of 30 tablets of 10 mg costs $ 32, per unit cost is $ 1.07.

Cost of brand Namenda.

  1. Pack of 30 tablets of 5 mg and 10 mg costs $ 249.41, per unit cost is $ 8.31.