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How to Cope with the Side Effects of Parkinson’s Medications

Dopamine agonists

These medicines imitate the way dopamine affects the brain. They enter:

ropinirole (Requip), pramipexole (Mirapex), as a patch, as Neupro, as a short-acting injectable, as apomorphine, and in pill form

Some adverse effects are:

  • Daytime drowsiness
  • delusions
  • confusion
  • ankle swelling
  • compulsive behaviors, such as gambling and overeating
  • dyskinesia [1]

COMT blockers

Entacapone (Comtan), a COMT inhibitor, prolongs the effects of levodopa in your body. Some adverse effects are:

Levodopa side effects include dyskinesia, disorientation, and hallucinations. One can also experience severe diarrhea and rust-colored urine.