What are some of the main medical treatments for non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s?

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    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    A drug called rivastigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor, is used to treat dementia in people with Parkinson's disease (or Alzheimer's).[1] Other treatments for non-motor symptoms are similar to treatments used for the same symptoms in people without Parkinson's disease.[2] For example, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are used to treat depression in people with Parkinson's disease.[2] Melatonin has shown some efficacy for treating daytime fatigue and excessive daytime sleepiness in people with Parkinson's disease through improving sleep quality.[3] Although modafinil is often prescribed for excessive daytime sleepiness, it failed to improve objective measures of sleepiness in people with Parkinson's disease in a randomized controlled trial.[4]

    References

    1. ^Seppi K, Ray Chaudhuri K, Coelho M, Fox SH, Katzenschlager R, Perez Lloret S, Weintraub D, Sampaio C,Update on treatments for nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson's disease-an evidence-based medicine review.Mov Disord.(2019-Feb)
    2. ^Armstrong MJ, Okun MSDiagnosis and Treatment of Parkinson Disease: A Review.JAMA.(2020-Feb-11)
    3. ^Dowling GA, Mastick J, Colling E, Carter JH, Singer CM, Aminoff MJMelatonin for sleep disturbances in Parkinson's disease.Sleep Med.(2005-Sep)
    4. ^Ondo WG, Fayle R, Atassi F, Jankovic JModafinil for daytime somnolence in Parkinson's disease: double blind, placebo controlled parallel trial.J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry.(2005-Dec)