Pharmacological Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease

Excerpt

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the common chronic degenerative conditions of the nervous system. There is currently no cure for PD, but a number of drugs offer benefits in terms of controlling the motor symptoms. While these drugs can offer significant improvements to motor function, they may lead to problematic adverse effects, particularly as disease progresses. In this chapter, we focus on the drugs that are currently employed for the treatment of PD, including discussion on their mode of action, clinical utility, and adverse effects. We also cover some interesting emerging approaches that are currently under investigation.