Parkinson's: Expert Guides and Resources

Having Parkinson’s disease (PD) makes for a challenging journey. Use the succinct information in this Cheat Sheet to recognize the important PD terms and acronyms, know where to look for related support, manage medications, and prepare emergency contact information.Managing your medication routineHere are some important tips for managing your medications: Carry a complete list of current prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressively debilitating disease that causes muscle spasms; weakness from wasting away of muscles; and ultimately, strained speaking, swallowing, and breathing. The disease goes by a few other names, including motor neurone disease (MND), Charcot disease, and Lou Gehrig's disease, the latter of which refers to the legendary first baseman who died two years after his ALS diagnosis.

If you have Parkinson’s disease (PD), you know that few things are quick and easy — except the following list that helps you remind yourself that living well with PD is possible. Read this list once a day — twice if it’s a rough day: Challenge — Acknowledge and face the facts. Humor — Find and revel in the absurd.

If you’re dealing with Parkinson’s disease, don’t ignore the benefits of the Internet. The Web sites in the following list can provide you and your care providers with information, support, and a variety of resources. Add these Parkinson's Web sites to your bookmark list: American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc.

Every condition, profession, sport, and what-have-you has its own vocabulary and its own acronyms. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is no different. The following list contains terms and abbreviations that are part of the Parkinson’s world: akinesia: Inability to move spontaneously ataxia: Impaired balance and coordination bradykinesia: Slowed movement carbidopa/levodopa: Medication to relieve PD symptoms dopamine: Acts as one of the brain's messengers to signal movement and maintain balance and coordination dyskinesia: Abnormal involuntary movements PD: Parkinson’s disease PWP: Person (or people) with Parkinson’s disease T.

The following classes of medications may be incompatible with routine medications you take to manage Parkinson’s disease. Provide the following list to all medical professionals before they prescribe any new medicine (prescription or over-the-counter), and review any new medications with your neurologist before you begin taking them: Antinausea dopamine agonists Gastrointestinal anticholinergics Antipsychotics Postoperative pain-management drugs (Demerol in particular) Contact the National Parkinson Foundation (or call toll-free 1-800-327-4545) for a wallet-sized card that lists drugs that may be contraindicated.

If you have Parkinson’s disease, you most likely manage some symptoms with medication. Managing your Parkinson's medications can be a challenge in itself, but the tips in the following list can help you stay on top of things: Carry a complete list of current prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

Having Parkinson’s disease (PD) certainly doesn’t make you immune to accidents and ailments that can land you in a hospital — it may make a trip to the ER more likely, in fact. To make sure that a surprise trip to the emergency room (is there any other kind?) or a planned stay in the hospital doesn’t leave you worse off than before you went in, use the following tips: Have copies of the following information ready; give them to the Admissions office, the doctors, and ER or floor staff: Your neurologist’s contact information — phone, pager, e-mail, and fax info Your doctor’s written instructions for stopping and starting your PD meds during ER or hospital treatment A list of all prescription and over-ther-counter medications you currently take A list of the red-flag medications that interact badly with PD meds, including antinausea dopamine agonists, gastrointestinal anticholinergics, antipsychotics, and postoperative pain-management drugs — Demerol in particular Examine meds you are given in the hospital.