Nursing Pharmacology: Anti-Parkinson Agents

Front 1

What is Parkinson's disease, or paralysis agitans, characterized by?

Back 1

1. Muscle tremor
2. Rigidity
3. Lack of coordination.

Hint 1

move right to left

Front 2

What causes Parkinson's disease?

Back 2

The cause of Parkinson's disease is not completely understood, but it is believed to be the result of an imbalance in the concentration of certain neurotransmitter in the brain.
1. Excessive amount of acetylcholine and
2. Deficiency of dopamine in the CNS.

Front 3

Drug employed in the treatment of Parkinson's disease may be divide into two categories:

Back 3

1. Those exerting dopaminergic action and
2. Those exerting anticholinergic action.

Front 4

Name the two drugs used in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease.

Back 4

1. Atropine
2. Levodopa

Front 5

Classification of
Levodopa

Back 5

DOPAMINERGIC AGENTS

Front 6

Mechanism of
Levodopa

Back 6

when levodopa enters the bloodstream, it is rapidly converted in the peripheral circulation to dopamine by the enzyme dopadecarboxylase and eventually increase the content of dopamine in the brain.

Front 7

Side/ Adverse effects of
Levodopa

Back 7

1. Nausea, vomiting, and orthostatic hypotension, dyskinesia, dystonia, somnolence, and gastrointestinal irritation.
2. In clients with history of cardiac disturbances arrhythmias may occurs.
3. Long term use may cause psychiatric disturbances or intensification of existing narrow-angle glaucoma.
4. "off-on" phenomenon.

Front 8

Contraindication of
Levodopa

Back 8

Clients using levodopa should not take multivitamin products containing pyridoxine (vitamin B6), but may take a pyridoxine-free product, such as Larobec.

Front 9

Nursing Implications of
Levodopa

Back 9

1. Should be administered with non protein food to reduce GI upset.
2. Doses more than 10 mg of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) will reverse the effect of levodopa.
3. May darken urine.
4. Monitor client for disturbances in thought processes or behavior.

Front 10

Classification of
Atropine

Back 10

ANTICHOLINERGIC AGENTS
Belladonna derivative

Front 11

Usage of
Atropine

Back 11

Treat Parkinson's Disease

Front 12

adverse effect of
Atropine

Back 12

1. dry mouth
2. urinary retention
3. blurred vision.

Front 13

Contraindications of
Atropine

Back 13

not used with patient with narrow-angle glaucoma and other disorders that are adversely affected by anticholinergic drugs.