How Fresh Therapeutics Compounding Pharmacy Can Help A Person Living With Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the central nervous system (CNS), and it is one of many neurological conditions. Its cause is the loss of nerve cells in the brain due to a variety of reasons including age, hormones, and injury.

Individuals with Parkinson’s disease have insufficient levels of the chemical dopamine. Without dopamine, people cannot perform many of their normal daily activities at an expected speed. Their movements become slower and it takes longer to perform any task.

According to Parkinson’s Australia, the disease affects approximately one in three hundred people. Most people who get Parkinson’s disease are in the age group of fifty or over. However, younger people are also affected. In fact, one in twenty people living with Parkinson’s disease is under the age of forty. Currently, one hundred thousand Australians are living with Parkinson’s disease.

Scientists and researchers have not yet been able to find a cure to Parkinson’s disease or slow down its progression. However, this is an area of extensive research. Each case of Parkinson’s disease is unique. Everyone affected with this disease exhibit varying symptoms. For example, some patients get tremors while for others, rigidity is the key symptom. Parkinson’s Australia lists symptoms as:

• Tremor or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face;
• Rigidity or stiffness of limbs and trunk;
• Bradykinesia or slowness of movement; and
• Postural instability or impaired balance and coordination

Parkinson’s Australia notes that full-blown Parkinson’s disease can be crippling or disabling. However, there are many therapies available these days which can lead to better quality of life for those with Parkinson’s disease. And the good news is that your local pharmacy can help.

With modern medicine, symptoms can be kept under control. The main goal of medicinal therapies is to increase the level of dopamine. Parkinson’s disease affects each person differently. Hence, it is important to take individually tailored medicine regimens accordingly. As the disease progresses, and dopamine production is reduced, it is quite common for people to require higher doses of medicine and therefore experience side effects. The objective is to obtain maximum mobility with minimal side effects.

One of the key aspects of managing Parkinson’s disease is medicine management. Medicines have to be taken at the correct time to allow for absorption time and the attainment of therapeutic levels. Factors such as diet also need to be considered when taking particular medicines for Parkinson’s disease. There are also certain medicines that can make the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease worse.

Our pharmacists at Fresh Therapeutics Compounding Pharmacy can help you gain the maximum benefit from your medicine while keeping side effects to a minimum. We can sit down with you and complete a Medscheck where we discuss the following:

• Purpose or indications of the medicine;
• Benefits that should be expected;
• Possible side effects; and
• Management and drug interactions

We then print out a sheet explaining each medicine so an up to date record of your medicines including any over-the-counter products, can be used by your doctor at each visit.

If you are unable to get to the pharmacy, we can deliver your medicines right to your doorstep. Moreover, if you are having problems remembering whether you have taken a medicine or not, we can pack them in a Dosage
Administration Aid for a small weekly fee. Patients that hold a DVA card may have this fee reimbursed by DVA.

Sometimes, swallowing can become difficult for persons with Parkinson’s disease. If you are one of them, do not fret! At Fresh Therapeutics Pharmacy, we have a product called Gloup. Gloup is a medication lubricant that makes taking medications a more pleasant and safer experience. Gloup makes medicines or vitamins in tablet, capsule, and powder form easier to swallow. It is a slippery gel consisting of food-based ingredients. Its ingredients have no known interactions with most medications.

These ingredients also break down almost immediately once the medication hits the acidic environment of the stomach. Thus, it creates minimal impact on absorption of the medication. Gloup has a pleasant, fresh cherry flavour that camouflages the taste of medicines. It is capable of effectively moistening the mouth and throat without sticking to the roof of the mouth. It then biodegrades into inactive elements inside the stomach. This is due to the stomach’s acidic environment. Gloup does not contain sugar, gluten or lactose. Once opened, it has only a shelf life of 60 days.

Alternatively, as a compounding pharmacy, we at Fresh Therapeutics can compound most medicines into a dosage form that might be easier to take such as a suspension, suppository or capsule.

As a Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Self Care member, we have a range of Fact Cards and other information that may help with various conditions such as:

• Preventing Falls;
• Constipation;
• Depression;
• Relaxation Techniques; and
• Sleeping Problems

Most people with Parkinson’s disease experience social isolation and depression. If you have this disorder and need an immediate relief, visit Fresh Therapeutics Compounding Pharmacy today to receive support and most importantly friendly smiles from all our staff. You can also seek advices about Parkinson’s disease through Parkinson’s Australia (www.parkinsons.org.au).