What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s Disease is known as a movement disorder since it attacks the central nervous system, which when affected can impair movement. It is a progressive disorder, meaning that symptoms of the disease get worse over time. Additionally, there is no cure for this disease; once a patient is diagnosed they are affected for life. Fortunately, there is medication for Parkinson’s Disease that stops the progression of the symptoms so that patients can live a more manageable life. Medication for Parkinson’s Disease can be costly, so Advocate My Meds offers discounts on treatment for the disease for patients that qualify for the service.

What are the Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease?

The most common and debilitating symptom of this chronic condition is trouble with movement. Those diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease may try to move an arm, but messages for movement sent to the brain are neglected due to damage to the central nervous system, causing movements to be minimal or nonexistent. Common movement symptoms seen in Parkinson’s patients include:

• Tremors
• Trouble writing
• Trouble with posture (either sitting or standing)
• Trouble with atomic abilities like blinking, balancing, and smiling
• Changes in speech
• Stiffness of the muscles
• Overall slowed movements

Why do People Develop Parkinson’s Disease?

Doctors don’t know the exact reasons that individuals develop Parkinson’s Disease, but they do have a belief that it is due to the combination of a few different factors that may include:

• Sex
• Age
• Genetics
• Environmental influences like being exposed to solvents, air pollution, ingesting well water, exposure to pesticides.

How Common is Parkinson’s Disease?

In the United States alone, there are approximately one million individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Each day over 150 people receives a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. This means that a person is three times more likely to develop Parkinson’s Disease than MS, Muscular Dystrophy, and Lou Gehrig’s disease if they were to be combined. If you have recently received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease, there are a few things that you can do. Talk to your doctor about treatment options. Learn as much about your condition as possible so that you are aware of all the facts. Get a support group of family and loved ones that will see that you are staying positive about your condition. Lastly, remember to encourage yourself and stay positive. You are not alone!

Dopamine’s Role in Parkinson’s Disease

Dopamine is a naturally produced chemical in the brain that helps to send messages to the brain telling the body to perform movements. As aging continues, the brain produces less and less dopamine. Some people experience dopamine decreasing quicker than others, and those individuals find it hard to get their body to coordinate, balance, and move like they’d like. These individuals are also experiencing symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, which is why dopamine treatment is believed to help patients diagnosed with the disorder.

Medication for Parkinson’s Disease

Rytary is a medication for Parkinson’s Disease that utilizes Levodopa, which helps the brain to restore lost dopamine so the body can better produce movements. Along with Levodopa, Rytary includes another medication known as Carbidopa, which keeps the Levodopa from producing too much dopamine so that it may be reached in the brain in the correct way. Rytary is a pill form of medication that is extended release, so it works all day. It can be prescribed to patients who have just been diagnosed with the disease or patients who are at later stages; although time is of the essence when it comes to slowing the progression of symptoms in chronic conditions.

Paying for Medication for Parkinson’s Disease

If you have a prescription for Rytary or you are considering asking your doctor to switch your prescription or about your Parkinson’s Disease symptoms, you may be able to receive financial help for your medication for Parkinson’s Disease through Advocate My Meds. We offer prescription help for people with little to no prescription insurance coverage. There are no limits to the number of medications that we discount or provide free of charge, so if Rytary is not your only medication, we may be able to help with the others as well. To find more information on our services, application process, and pricing please visit our website. Still have questions? We are happy to address any question or concern you may have through the telephone. Please call today at 877-596-1604 to start receiving medication discounts today!