Tag: Off episodes

Approved by the FDA in 2019, istradefylline (brand name Nourianz) is the first-in-class, non-dopaminergic medication used as an adjunctive treatment for adult patients with Parkinson's disease who experience 'off' episodes. It works alongside levodopa/carbidopa to manage the motor fluctuations associated with the disease.

Amantadine was initially discovered as an antiviral medication in the 1960s before its therapeutic potential for Parkinson's disease was realized. This serendipitous discovery has led to its common use as an add-on therapy, so yes, you can take amantadine with carbidopa-levodopa to help manage specific motor symptoms and complications.

Affecting nearly 1 million people in the United States, Parkinson's disease can cause debilitating motor fluctuations known as 'off' episodes. For many with mid- to late-stage disease, safinamide is used for management as an add-on treatment to levodopa to help smooth out these symptoms.

According to the Parkinson's Foundation, around 60% of people with Parkinson's disease (PD) experience "off" episodes, which apomorphine is used for as a rapid and effective treatment. This powerful dopamine agonist helps manage motor fluctuations by acting quickly to restore mobility and control symptoms like stiffness and tremor.

Although historically derived from morphine, the medication known as apomorphine does not contain morphine or bind to opioid receptors. It is primarily recognized as a potent dopamine agonist used to manage "off" episodes in people with advanced Parkinson's disease by mimicking dopamine's effect in the brain.

Up to 50% of people with Parkinson's disease (PD) who take levodopa/carbidopa begin to experience 'off' episodes within five years of starting treatment, signifying a return of symptoms. The medication Nourianz was approved by the FDA in 2019 specifically to help manage these motor fluctuations. This article explains **what does nourianz do** and how it offers a unique approach to managing Parkinson's symptoms.

Approved by the FDA in 2018, Inbrija is the first inhaled levodopa therapy designed to treat "OFF" episodes in people with Parkinson's disease who are already on a carbidopa/levodopa regimen. This on-demand medication helps to rapidly alleviate the return of motor symptoms experienced between regular doses.