Antiparkinsonian Agents | Indications and Therapeutic Effects | Common Side Effects |
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Levodopa | Most effective for symptomatic relief | Dyskinesia after 5 to 10 years of treatment, On-off syndrome, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, hypotension, dystonia, dyskinesia, confusion |
Carbidopa | Improves Levodopa effectivity; prevents its metabolism before reaching the brain | |
Anticholinergic Agents | Indications and Therapeutic Effects | Common Side Effects |
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Trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride | Control of tremor in patients with early onset disease | Blurred vision, flushing, rash, constipation, urinary retention, and acute confusional states |
Benztropine mesylate | Counteract the action of acetylcholine | Contraindicated in patients with narrow-angle glaucoma |
Antiviral Agents | Indications and Therapeutic Effects | Common Side Effects |
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Amantadine hydrochloride | Reduce rigidity, tremor, bradykinesia, and postural changes in early Parkinson’s disease (PD) | Psychiatric disturbances (mood changes, confusion, depression, hallucinations), lower extremity edema, nausea, epigastric distress, urinary retention, headache, and visual impairment |
Dopamine Agonists | Indications and Therapeutic Effects | Common Side Effects |
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Bromocriptine Mesylate | Early PD as well as secondary drug therapy after carbidopa or levodopa loses effectiveness | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, lightheadedness, hypotension, impotence, and psychiatric effects |
Pergolide | | |
Nonergot Derivatives | Indications and Therapeutic Effects | Common Side Effects |
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Ropinirole hydrochloride | Early stages of PD | May cause drowsiness or dizziness |
Pramipexole | | |
Monoamine Oxidase-Inhibitors | Indications and Therapeutic Effects | Common Side Effects |
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Selegiline | Inhibit dopamine breakdown | Agitation, dizziness, nausea, headache, rhinitis, back pain, stomatitis, orthostatic hypotension, insomnia |
Rasagiline | | |
Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors | Indications and Therapeutic Effects | Common Side Effects |
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Entacapone | Increase the duration of action of carbidopa or levodopa. | Abdominal pain, back pain, constipation, nausea, diarrhea, hematouria |
Tolcapone | Reduce motor fluctuations in patients with advanced PD | |