What is Parkinsons Disease

Parkinson's disease (paralysis agitans or PD) is a movement disorder often characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement (bradykinesia), and in extreme c...

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Discussion:
Apokyn
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My mother, who has PD, is scheduled to receive an injection of Apokyn on June 16. If she has no adverse side-effects, she will be able to self-inject from then on.

Has anyone received such injections or know anything about it from their experience as a caregiver?

Thank you,
Iris
Posted on 06/04/09, 07:06 pm
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Reply #1 - 07/03/09  8:07pm
" An update...

Apokyn, as I learned a couple of weeks ago, is used to treat pain related to Dystonia. It appears that some, if not all, of my mother's pain is attributable to newly-diagnosed Dystonia rather than her PD.

For four days prior to receiving injections of Apokyn, my mother had to take anti-nausea medication. At her doctor's visit, my mom received her first injection, whereupon she was watched for several hours re: potential side-effects. At one point, her blood pressure was over 200, but it eventually returned to normal.

My father is currently injecting the medications when my mother is in extreme pain, mostly from spasms; the effect lasts for about an hour or so. Injections may be given up to five times per day.

As is standard practice, my mother's neurologist started her on the lowest dosage. Next week, a traveling nurse is coming to their house to provide my mom with a higher dosage since it currently isn't providing her with much relief. She will, again be monitored/watched for a while and, if successful (as expected), is expected to find much-needed relief from her awful pain.

I hope this information is a bit helpful to some of you with pain and spasms. If interested in "hearing" more as time progresses, please let me know. Otherwise, since this is a forum for PD, not Dystonia, I will not post further re: Apokyn. "

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