Secondary parkinsonism
Secondary parkinsonism is when a medical condition or medication leads to symptoms that resemble Parkinson’s. The most common cause of secondary parkinsonism is a side effect of medications, also known as pseudoparkinsonism [3].
Drugs that cause parkinsonism
Some drugs can interfere with dopamine transmission in your brain and cause symptoms resembling Parkinson’s.
Drugs that are known to induce parkinsonism include:
- neuroleptics (antipsychotics)
- dopamine depleting drugs
- antiemetics
- calcium-channel blockers
- mood stabilizers
- antidepressants
- antiepileptic drugs
Treatment usually involves lowering the dose or ceasing the use of the offending medication.
Conditions that cause parkinsonism
A number of underlying conditions can potentially lead to brain damage that causes parkinsonism. Some conditions include:
- brain tumors
- meningitis [4]
- stroke [5]
- drug overdose
- mercury poisoning
- carbon monoxide poisoning
- HIV [6] and AIDS
Treatment for parkinsonism caused by an underlying condition involves targeting the root cause and treating the symptoms.