Managing drug treatments for Parkinson's
This page gives you information on managing your Parkinson's medication and how other medication can impact you.
Managing your medication for Parkinson's will help you get the best control of your condition day to day.
You may also take medication for other conditions which are not related to your Parkinson's. So it is important to be aware of which drugs to avoid and how other medication you take can interact with your Parkinson's drugs.
Take your Parkinson’s medication on time
There are many tools people with Parkinson’s use to help them remember to take their medication on time. The trick is to find a way that suits you. You can try using alarms on a digital watch or setting a reminder on a smartphone.
Pill timers
A pill timer is a box that you can keep your Parkinson’s drugs in to help you remember when to take each dose. They are useful if you have to take lots of different tablets or if you have trouble remembering to take your medication.
Some are split into different times of day for you to keep all of your Parkinson’s drugs for one day together. Others are big enough to hold your tablets for a whole week, with sections for each day. Some weekly pill timers are also split into times of day.
The cost of pill timers will be based on the type and who it is made by. An occupational therapist or pharmacist can help you to choose the right one for you.
Help from your pharmacist
Your community pharmacist can help you with taking your medication. It’s useful to go to the same pharmacist each time so they get to know you and your Parkinson’s. If you have trouble taking your medication, your pharmacist can do an assessment to see how they can help. For example, they can offer labels with larger letters, non-‘click top’ bottles that are easier to open or a medication reminder chart.
They may also be able to put your medication into a dosette box or dosette-style blister pack. This means that each tablet has its own section linked to the correct time and day to remind you of your dose and when to take it.
Managing Parkinson’s medication while in hospital
If you need to go into hospital, make sure that hospital staff understand you have Parkinson’s and that you need your medication on time. Getting your medication on time will mean your symptoms are well controlled and that you are likely to have fewer complications from being in hospital.
Some hospitals will allow you to look after your own medication. This means you can take it yourself outside of the usual times staff give out drugs on the ward (ward round). The medication will need to be in its original packaging. Blister packs or pill boxes are not used in hospitals. If you have time, contact the hospital to find out about their self-administration policy.
Our Get It On Time resources can help you to remind staff about the importance of getting Parkinson’s medication on time in hospital. See our Get It On Time resources on our shop.
Managing other types of drugs you may take
If you have Parkinson’s, then it’s likely you’ll have symptoms that don’t just affect movement. These are known as non-motor symptoms, and include things like anxiety, pain and constipation.
Treatments for these symptoms are normally the same types of drugs that anyone might use or be prescribed. For example, you may be prescribed a drug called Movicol for constipation.
But some medication can interfere with how Parkinson’s drugs work. This means that a particular drug can become weaker or stronger.
Whoever prescribes you new medication should check what you’re already taking. And before you take something, it’s always good to double check with your specialist, Parkinson’s nurse or pharmacist whether there are any risks. This includes over-the-counter medication.
Indigestion and heartburn
Drugs for indigestion, heartburn or an upset stomach can affect the absorption of Parkinson’s medication. So don’t take this type of medication in the two hours before and after your Parkinson’s medication.
If you do experience heartburn or indigestion, speak with your GP, specialist or Parkinson’s nurse, who can advise on treatments.
Cold and flu remedies
Decongestants (medicine that can provide short-term relief for a blocked or stuffy nose) and cold remedies can stop your Parkinson’s medication working properly. This includes things like Lemsip. This is especially important to remember if you are taking selegiline, rasagiline and safinamide. They can also increase the risk of side effects.
Iron tablets
You may take iron tablets if you have Parkinson’s. But iron tablets can affect how much levodopa is absorbed in the body. You should aim to leave around 2 hours between taking iron supplements and levodopa.
Anti-sickness drugs
Parkinson’s medication can cause nausea and vomiting. Your specialist may prescribe an anti-sickness medication for a short period to prevent and treat this side effect. But some anti-sickness medication will interact with Parkinson’s medication. These include metoclopramide (Maxalon) and prochlorperazine (Stemetil).
Other anti-sickness medication that is generally considered safe include cyclizine (Valoid) and 5-HT3 receptor antagonists like ondansetron.
Antipsychotic medication
Antipsychotic medication is used to treat hallucinations and delusions when someone experiences psychosis or schizophrenia. Because antipsychotics and Parkinson’s medication both affect the levels of dopamine in the brain, there needs to be a delicate balance so that symptoms of both conditions stay controlled.
Some can cause Parkinson’s-like symptoms or react badly with Parkinson’s drugs.
Herbal supplements
Herbal supplements are popular and many are safe to use. However, some may affect your Parkinson’s drugs. For example, St John’s Wort, which is often used for anxiety or low mood, is not recommended for people with Parkinson’s.
It is made up of many elements which can interact with your Parkinson’s medication and cause side effects.
Cannabis-based treatments for Parkinson’s
When it comes to cannabis-based medicines, so far there has been a lack of clinical trials in people with Parkinson’s.
This means we do not yet have enough evidence to know whether cannabis-based treatments are safe and what the benefits may be for people with the condition.
Some trials are investigating the benefits of cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant.
This is available to buy as a food supplement, but it’s unclear whether it can help manage Parkinson’s symptoms. Researchers are also unsure how it may interact with other Parkinson’s medications. If you’re thinking about taking any CBD supplements, it’s best to speak to a healthcare professional first.
Find out more: we have information about research on cannabis-based treatments for people with Parkinson’s
Tips for managing your Parkinson’s medication
- Try to take your medication at the same set times every day as advised by your specialist or Parkinson’s nurse. Your pharmacist can also support you with your medication and dose.
- Tell your specialist, Parkinson’s nurse or pharmacist straight away if you have any side effects from the drugs you take to treat Parkinson’s.
- Don’t stop taking or change the dose or timing of your Parkinson’s drugs until you have spoken to your specialist or Parkinson’s nurse, as this can increase your symptoms.
- Do not take two doses together to make up for a dose that you forgot to take, or take your late dose really close to your next one.
- You may want to go to your appointments by yourself or find it useful to take someone with you. Some people with Parkinson’s feel it helps to have someone else at the appointment with them so that they are also aware of all the medication issues.
- Use a diary or chart to keep a record of the medication you are currently on. Update it when your specialist team starts you on a new drug, changes your drugs or adjusts the dose or number of times you take it.
- Record the dose and time you take your medication and what happened to your symptoms. This can help you decide together on how well the drug is working. You can cut out, copy and use our medication record at the end of this information, or download it from our website.
- You may want to wear MedicAlert jewellery, such as a bracelet or pendant, where you can record details about medication you take and emergency contact information. Or you can carry our medication card to help people know in an emergency that you have Parkinson’s and what medication you take. Order our medication card from our online shop.
Our helpline and other useful contacts
Our helpline
Call our helpline free on 0808 800 0303 for advice on managing your Parkinson’s drug treatments or any aspect of living with Parkinson's.
Other useful contacts
Living Made Easy provides information on a range of equipment, including pill timers and organisers, on their website. Visit the Living Made Easy website.
You can also call their helpline on 0300 999 0004 to speak to an adviser.
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This content will next be reviewed within 3 years of that date. If you'd like to find out more about how we put our information together, including references and the sources of evidence we use, please contact us at [email protected]