Day-to-Day Life
The goal of Parkinson’s disease treatment is to manage the symptoms of the disease so that you can maintain your daily activities (for example, walking, writing, talking, cooking, and dressing). Here are some tips that may help you.
Keep Track of Your Medicine: Remember to refill your prescriptions promptly, so you’re never out of medication.Consider a Caregiver
A caregiver is a person who helps a patient with their Parkinson’s disease symptoms. A caregiver might, for example, take a patient to a medical appointment, cook them a meal, or help them keep track of their medications. Some patients hire someone specifically to provide these services. Other patients rely on family or friends. Caregivers can provide important physical care, and some caregivers even provide emotional support to their patients.
Take Your Medicine
Always take your medicines as you have been directed by your doctor. Make a list of every prescription you take along with any over-the-counter medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements that you use. Make sure you also record when you take each of these items as well as how much you take. You can add this information to the Doctor Visit Worksheet to take to your appointment. Finally, a medication organizer can make it easier to track when you need to take medication.
Prescription REQUIP XL is not for everyone. REQUIP XL may cause you to fall asleep or feel very sleepy during normal activities such as driving; or to faint or feel dizzy, nauseated, or sweaty when you stand up. Tell your doctor if you experience these or the following problems, or if you drink alcohol or are taking other medicines that make you drowsy. Side effects may include nausea, dizziness, drowsiness or sleepiness, headache, and sudden uncontrolled movements (dyskinesia). Increase or decrease in blood pressure and heart rate may occur. Hallucinations may occur at any time during treatment. Also tell your doctor if you experience new or increased gambling, sexual, or other intense urges while taking REQUIP XL. REQUIP XL may increase the side effects of L-dopa. Most patients were not bothered enough to stop taking REQUIP XL.