AboutMargot RN BScN GNC Expertise Please feel free to ask anything, but the more specific you are, the easier it is for me. Please share as many details as you are comfortable doing. I do check my Emails daily Monday through Friday so you should receive an answer within 24 hours on most business days. Thanks.
Experience GERONTOLOGY (NURSING ISSUES RELATED TO THE ELDERY) I have 15+ years experience working with the elderly. I would be pleased to offer any assistance I can. My areas of expertise include: Gerontology / Geriatrics, Long Term Care, Community Nursing, Palliative Care, Private Nursing Services, Intermediate / Extended Care. I also have a personal interest in Homeopathic and Eastern Medicine. If I can not answer your question I'll do my best to direct you to an appropriate resource. Thank you. Experience in the area 20 years of Long Term Care and Community Nursing, specialising in Geriatrics, Gerontology and PalliativeCare.
Education/Credentials Registered Nurse , Certified Gerontological Nurse, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Expert: Margot RN BScN GNC Date: 10/24/2007 Subject: Mom with Parkinson's and vision issues
Question My mom has been diagnosed with Parkinson's in Eastern Europe. She is visiting us here in the US now. She is on a medication called "Madopar". Have you heard about it? Is this a good medication for PD? On top of everything her vision all of a sudden started getting a lot worse and she can't read hardly at all with her prescription glasses. Can this be caused by PD and if so, what can be done to improve her vision?
Also, are there any free PD diagnostic clinics in the US? (We live in North Carolina) I am worried about the limited knowledge of the disease of the doctors in that part of the world.
Thank you!
Cristina Dorne
Answer Hi Cristina and thanks for writing,
Madopar capsules and dispersible tablets contain the active ingredients levodopa and benserazide. This combination of medicines is also sometimes known as co-beneldopa. It is used in Parkinson’s disease to increase the levels of dopamine in the brain. This is the usual treatment for PD.
I would advise you to take your Mom to have her eyes tested by an Ophthalmologist here so as they have the knowledge and equipment to assess her sudden change in vision and let you know what's causing it and discuss appropriate treatment options with you.
I am not aware of any PD Clinics but you might contact the Collaborative Centers for Parkinson's Disease Environmental Research at P.O. Box 12233, Mail Drop EC-23, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 Tel (919) 541-0488 Fax (919) 541-5064 email: alston2@niehs.nih.gov.
I hope this helps and I wish you and your Mom good health,
