Parkinson’s Disease
History
Tremor (resting, hands)
Difficulty rising from chair
Stiffness (arms, legs)
Constipation
Loss of smell
Falls
Non-motor symptoms (fatigue, depression, REM sleep behaviour disorder) may precede motor signs
Examination
Resting "pill-rolling" tremor
Shuffling gait, loss of arm swing
Stooped posture
Masked facies
Cogwheel rigidity
Bradykinesia
Power, reflexes, sensation usually normal
Postural instability develops later
Investigations
Clinical diagnosis (based on response to levodopa)
DaTScan (dopamine transporter scan) for atypical cases
Management
Neurology referral for confirmation
Patient education (chronic nature of disease)
Levodopa + carbidopa (first-line)
Dopamine agonists (pramipexole, ropinirole) or anticholinergics (consider in younger or tremor-dominant cases)
Physiotherapy (mobility)
Psychology (CBT), Parkinson’s support group
Speech therapy
Manage comorbidities (dementia, depression, anxiety)
Falls prevention, regular exercise
Avoid metoclopramide & prochlorperazine, use domperidone 10 mg TDS (max 7 days) for nausea
Note: Parkinsonism (Parkinson-plus syndromes) does not improve with levodopa/carbidopa.
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