How many of you are caring for someone that has Parkinson's and have low blood pressure?

Have any of the neurologists been a Movement Disorder Specialist? There seems to be a big difference in the care you get from a MDS and a neurologist who does not specialize. You can find out if there is one near you from the Parkinson's Foundation at 1 800 4PD INFO.

My mom recently died at age 95 with end stage Parkinson’s disease in a hospice house.

When she was younger, before her Parkinson’s diagnosis, she had high blood pressure and was given meds. The doctor kept her on the meds.

Mom lived with us. One Saturday morning she called out to me and said that she felt different and was scared. I took her to the emergency room to have her examined. The ER doctor told me that mom’s blood pressure was very low and that it was common in Parkinson’s patients to have low BP. She told mom to discontinue her BP meds.

Mom’s older brother who lived to be 96 also had Parkinson’s disease. He also had low blood pressure from time to time. I don’t know if this is a good thing or not, but he said that he would eat a bit of salt when his pressure dropped too low.

I know that mom felt awful when I took her to the ER. She wasn’t a whiny baby that complained constantly about how she felt. She did suffer from her Parkinson’s disease but she didn’t embellish, in other words, she wasn’t a drama queen, so I knew that she didn’t feel well.

Best wishes to you and your husband.

My nephew has experienced this and was being tested for POTs syndrome. It was never confirmed for him but they did give him a few other things to try (see below).
I would speak with his dr or even pharmacist to see if maybe one of his medications is interfering? Ask for bloodwork if it hasn’t been done recently.
I do know they told my nephew to increase his salt intake - and to also keep things like pretzels with him and eat them throughout the day or have electrolyte drinks with him. It was his sodium dropping. But I would suggest speaking with his Primary to review any recent bloodwork or request one be done - and also even checking with the pharmacist if he is on any medications that may have it listed as a side effect.

Have you spoken to his neurologist? Does his blood pressure drop when he stands up, orthostatic hypotension, or just randomly drops without any change in position? Maybe the doctor should review his meds. Try keeping a symptom log to see if there is any pattern to the drop in BP. How do you know the BP is dropping...dizziness, falling? When at medical appointments if they are only taking BP while seated have them do it in stages, first while lying down, then after standing a few minutes. Drops in BP is a common problem in PD.