Anyone taking care of a Parkinson's patient? Need some advice/suggestions.

I would be jumping up and down on the carpet demanding a med that is actually indicated for Parkinson's instead of two muscle relaxers (zanaflex and parafon) and an anxiety med (Ativan). Go to the Parkinsons Disease Foundation website pdf.org for med lists.

Agree with pams totally. Medication and the right kind is crucial at this point.

What do you mean by episode, is it related to the bronchitis or the shaking? You are on the wrong medications, my mom had PD too. At one point the limbs on my mom's body were out of control and it was a build up of the medications in her system. My mom took Cabidopa for PD, it was my understanding to be the most effective. The last time my mom went into hospital they pulled up hospital records from years before (weened off of) instead of the current list of medications we provided at admittance. Watch closely, we found the hospital making all kinds of serious mistakes with the medications, my mother was a mess because of it! She came out way worse than when she went in.

She takes Stalevo 3 times a day; a 150 mg in the morning and then 2 200 mg pills in the afternoon and evening. We just saw her neurologist a month ago and he didn't change any of her medications. She is already on Paxil for depression and Seroquel at night. We were told by the hospitalist not to give her the Parafon so we didn't and that is what apparently caused the tremors at home. I talked to her PCP and he said to add back the Parafon and we haven't had any more problems. We were in control of her medications at the hospital; they would have messed them up and she wouldn't have gotten them at the right times. We have noticed that if Mom does too much she will start tremoring, and if she is nervous or upset that brings them on also.

Thanks for the responses.

Dad has had PD since he was 63 and he will be 77 this year. He's on 1 1/2 carbidopa/levodopa 25/100 (small yellow round pills) at 6:00 am, 10:00 am , 2:00 pm, 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm. He also takes Amantadine at 6:00 am, Rivistigmime at 6:00 am and 6:00 pm, Vitamin B-12 at 6:00 am, and most recently Levostatin for high LDL cholesterol. At 10:00 pm he takes a 5 mg melatonin to help him sleep and at 10:00 am he takes a 50mg Zoloft to keep him from being so grumpy. It's a constant struggle to keep him safe, awake during the day-sleeping at night, and the dementia from progressing. He falls some...but not as bad as he used to and we have full time care-givers with him and his wife most of the time. We have FINALLY gotten her to the point that she's not so nasty to the caregivers so we've managed to hold onto the same 2 for several months now. I almost (but not quite) have my life back.

I have Parkinson's
In end stage I was 56 when got now I'm 63 .i havering real time. Iim in nurseing home . Up until a year I was living next door daughter . I get with walker but I falling alot . Then I started having trouble swallowing they put in pig tube now I meds thought it . I was pleasure eating but can't swollow at.all .i don't have tremors I get real stiff n I get stuck . N I feel like dieing when my meds wear off ! M my

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tube .

Linda m... Big hugs to you..if was by you, I'd hug you in person. I'm so sorry about your situation. My father is heading that way too. It must be scary and I wish there was a cure for everyone going through this. I am glad you are on here. People here are understanding and caring. I hope reading this forum brings you some kind of peace. You've touched my heart and I am sending big prayers your way.

My husband is in the early stages. He takes Ropinerole 12mg ER once a day, Remeron and gabapentin (he also has peripheral neuropathy) to aid sleep and Azilect daily.

My sister has gone to some of the support group meetings for me, and the one thing she was told is this:
PD patients need their meds on time, every time. If you go to the hospital ER, you may be waiting for some time. Be sure to take the key meds in their bottles - we keep them in his Aware in Care kit bag, in his car. There's also a card that says he needs his meds on time. We also keep updated med lists in each of our wallets. It's unsettling the number of times I've seen staff in one discipline (say cardio) not even look at the meds from another (say gastro) where there might be a problem. I keep a few of his key meds in my purse for an emergency. And I also notice more night tremors ( no day tremors) when he's really been physically tired. And I have been keeping notes and records on my iPad, - doctor visits, medication changes etc. I started a spreadsheet two years ago for the medication costs to be able to get a feel for when he is going to hit the donut hole and our monthly med costs will jump up.

I have Parkinson's I got when I was 56 n now I'm 63 . I don't have tremors .im in nursing home .up until now living by. Self withh aid . But falling a lot .i can't swollow anymore they feed tube. My noerolgist Says im max out on drugs. I just freeze job . I'm end stages . I so weak I get stiff. Ii feel like dieing when meds wear off.

I also agree with Pam. I lost my mom Jan. 5th and her tremors would get so bad at times she had trouble feeding herself. I would go over all the issues with her home health RN and Doc. but never really got anywhere. The meds they gave her caused heart problems on top of everything else. If I could do it over I would have been digging for more answers rather that going with the RN's and Docs advice.