Author Question: A patient with Parkinson's disease has been achieving good symptom control with levodopa but ... (Read 19 times)

fnuegbu · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

A patient with Parkinson's disease has been achieving good symptom control with levodopa but complains that symptoms begin to return before it is time for the next dose. One potential remedy for this wearing off phenomenon is to:

1. take levodopa at shorter dosing intervals.
2. give a drug that decreases levodopa's half-life.
3. take levodopa at longer dosing intervals.
4. increase the dose to increase receptor binding.

Question 2

A patient has been recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. A nurse is providing patient education for the patient and the spouse. The nurse is correct to state that the goal with the current drug regimen is to

a. improve the patient's ability to carry out activities of daily life.
b. stimulate the growth of new neurons.
c. reduce the occurrence of psychiatric disorders among Parkinson's patients.
d. prevent hypertensive crisis.

T4T · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
The goal with the current drug regimen is simply to improve the patient's ability to carry out activities of daily life. Drug selection and dosage are determined by the extent to which Parkinson's disease interferes with work, walking, dressing, eating, bathing, and other activities.
The Parkinson's disease drug regimen do not stimulate new neurons.
The drug regimen does not reduce the occurrence of psychiatric disorders among patients; in fact, it may increase it.
The drug regimen does not prevent hypertensive crisis, and some of the drugs actually may cause hypertension.