Medicating Parkinson's Patients, Yes or No?

BLOG 8: Treatment for Parkinson disease often hinder impulse control in human, therefore patients living with Parkinson disease should NOT be medicated.  Agree or disagree?  Justify your response.

Parkinson’s is an incurable disease that affects the nervous system and causes people to lose control of their muscles. The following chart is a list of the symptoms of Parkinson’s, taken from www.parkinson.ca.

MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS	OTHER SYMPTOMS
• Tremor  • Slowness and stiffness  • Impaired balance  • Rigidity of the muscles	• Fatigue  • Soft speech  • Problems with handwriting  • Stooped posture  • Constipation  • Sleep disturbances

Treatment for Parkinson’s often hinders the patient’s impulse control, however patients living with Parkinson’s should still be medicated if the patient believes the disease is deeply impairing their lives. There are many stages of Parkinson’s and patients cope with their disease in different ways, therefore it is up to the person and whether or not they want to take the treatment. That being said, if a person’s life is unbearable with parkinson’s where they cannot hold a job, cannot have a happy life and are desperate for a solution, they should be given the option of medication. If a person is given all the pros and cons of the medication, they should be able to decide whether or not the risk is worth taking. If their parkinson’s is just the tremors, slowness and stiffness but are still capable of walking, speaking and doing regular daily processes, they do not need the medication. However, if the patient cannot write, speak or sleep then medication should be recommended as it will lead to a better lifestyle.

Another topic brought up in discussion was whether or not parkinson’s victims should hold a job or not. Similar to being deaf or blind, parkinson’s is a disability that should still entitle patients to a job. Since parkinson’s symptoms are tremors, fatigue, stiffness, etc. patients should avoid jobs like a dentist or brain surgeon because they require fine movements, however jobs like a receptionist would be fine.

There are various symptoms of parkinsons that impair its victims differently thus, giving medication is not a yes or no question. It is whether or not the person’s lifestyle would be benefited from taking the medication, even though there are side effects. Treatment for Parkinson’s, even though it may hinder muscle movement, should be taken based on the patient’s desperation for a cure and on their discretion.

1.      http://www.parkinson.ca/site/c.kgLNIWODKpF/b.5184077/k.CDD1/What_is_Parkinsons.htm