Fatigue is often an early symptom and may shorten the persons duration of employment. The need for good diet and regular exercise can be stressed to the patient at this point. Also treatment with other concomatant conditions, particularly depression and frequent constipation may be indicated. There is no cure for Parkinsons disease and the current, most appropriate treatment consists of replacing the deficient levodopa, because a significant proportion of people will develop complications of levodopa therapy after some years, it has been suggested that it is best given as late as practically possible in the disease with relatively frequent dosages and at the lowest dose possible for as long as possible. Late stage At this stage very little significant benefit is obtained from medication and it is preferred just to give sedation perhaps an anti-depressant.
Constipation is a frequent problem and needs to be treated.
Small, frequent meals, elastic stockings and head-up tilt to the bed at night may help. Speech problems are frequent and progessive loss of communication with family and relatives propose considerable difficulties. Drooling of saliva may require an anticolanatant drug. Other new treatments for Parkinsons disease Considerable success is being attained by new surgical procedures, eg palodotomy. In spite of far more effective medications and improvement of physical therapy, the person with Parkinsons disease still has to suffer very considerable problems and disabilities.