Question

1. What are the Meds used for Parkinsons and nursing precautions?
2. What is gout? What meds treat gout? Patient teaching

Answer 1

1. Parkinson's disease is abnormal tremors, stiffness and body movements due to decreased dopamine level in the brain as a result of brain cell damage.

Treatment

The treatment is combination of levodopa and carbidopa. Levodopa is central nervous system agent that convert to dopamine. Carbidopa is decarboxylase inhibitor that inhibit the conversion of levodopa to dopamine in the peripheries before entering in the brain.

The nursing precaution

The medication should not be administered with iron supplements. It reduces the absorption of levodopa.

• High protein diet should be restricted as it reduces the drug absorption.
• The medication should be administered regularly and instruc the patient not to stop abruptly.
• Medication can caus drowsiness, antifall precaution to be taken during treatment.
• Thhe medication should be avoided in pregnancy and lactation.
• Medicine to be administered with caution with patients who have respiratory diseases, cardiac diseases and vision problems.

2. Gout is a tyoe of arthritis in which uric acid cristals are deposited in the joints causes inflammation, redness, and pain.

Treatment

Uric acid eeducer such as Allopurinol, febuxostat, Non- steroidal anti inflammatory drugs like indomethacin are used to treat increased uric acid levels and reduce pain.

Patient teaching include

• Avoid purine rich food, and protein rich items such red meat, organ meat, sea food, etc. As uric acid is the byproduct of purine breakdown.
• Avoid high sugar intake, and alcohol.
• Drink adequate amount of water
• Improve regular exercise, reduce weight,
• Engage in activities to reduce stress.
• Consume food rich in diatery fibers.