Levodopa, a dopamine agonist, is the main treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Dopamine agonists can improve movement problems and can reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia, and slowed walking.
However, these medications can cause daytime sleepiness and sleep attacks, which are significant risks in PD patients. Modafinil has been shown to be an effective alternative for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness in PD patients.
Symptoms
While Parkinson’s disease is mainly characterized by motor symptoms such as tremors and stiffness, it also causes other, more disabling symptoms such as sleep disorders, constipation, and sexual function problems. Treatments that improve these other symptoms may help you maintain a better quality of life.
For example, physical and exercise therapy can help you manage movement and balance problems. It can also help you avoid falls.
Other therapies, such as massage, yoga, and tai chi, can help you manage stress and relax. These types of treatments may also make you feel more energized and improve your quality of life.
Besides these symptom-reducing interventions, a social support network is also helpful for people with Parkinson’s. These groups can give you practical information about the disease, and they can provide a safe place for you to talk with others who understand your experience.
Levodopa, a medication that increases the production of dopamine in your brain, is the most commonly used Parkinson’s pill. Levodopa is often combined with carbidopa (Lodosyn), which prevents your body from converting dopamine to another form outside of your brain. This decreases side effects such as nausea and lightheadedness when you stand.
Dosage
Modafinil is a central nervous system stimulant used to treat shift work sleep disorder, narcolepsy, and obstructive sleep apnea. It may also help you wake up and feel alert during the day.
Several studies have shown that Modalert 200 Australia can help relieve daytime sleepiness (EDS) in people with Parkinson’s disease. Modafinil can also reduce excessive daytime sleepiness in some people with PD. The dose of modafinil is usually 200 mg to 400 mg daily. This dosage should not be changed without your doctor’s advice.
Medications that work by blocking or slowing the breakdown of dopamine in your brain, such as selective monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) inhibitors, can improve the control of tremors and other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. They can also increase the amount of levodopa that reaches your brain, making it last longer. They are also sometimes used to reduce or eliminate other side effects of levodopa such as drowsiness. In some persons with Parkinson’s disease, modafinil and Waklert Tablet can also relieve excessive daytime sleepiness.
Side effects
Modafinil is an antidepressant that has been shown to improve fatigue and improve the quality of life of people with Parkinson’s disease. It also may help slow or prevent the progression of the disease.
Fatigue is a common symptom of Parkinson’s disease, but it can be difficult to treat. Many medications for PD cause intense sleepiness and other side effects, which can make it hard to function and get around.
Researchers believe that this problem is due to brain inflammation, which causes neurons to produce less dopamine than normal. Medicines that reduce or reverse this inflammation, and promote dopamine levels, could one day treat Parkinson’s disease.
In this small trial, 37 patients with PD who were experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) were randomly assigned to take modafinil for 6 months. The primary endpoint was the ES score, and secondary outcomes included the MSLT, UPDRS, global impressions, Fatigue Severity Scale, and Hamilton Depression Scale.
Interactions
Modafinil can interact with a number of different medicines. Before taking modafinil, tell your doctor about all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription medicines, and dietary supplements you are taking.
Carbamazepine: (Moderate) Concomitant use of modafinil and CYP3A4 inducers, such as carbamazepine, may result in decreased modafinil efficacy. Monitor patients for signs of withdrawal, such as respiratory depression and sedation at frequent intervals.
Acetaminophen: (Moderate) Concomitant administration of modafinil with acetaminophen may increase the risk of withdrawal symptoms in patients who have physical dependence on opioid agonists, such as hydrocodone. Be sure to monitor your patient for signs of opioid withdrawal and reduce the acetaminophen dosage when modafinil is discontinued.
Medicines that boost dopamine in the brain and reverse or prevent inflammation may one day treat Parkinson’s disease. Modafinil is currently being investigated for this purpose in animal models of brain inflammation related to Parkinson’s.
