When Treating Parkinsons Consider Mirapex Side Effects

Our food supply is more and more important today than ever before. As we understand more and more about the effects of pesticides and herbicides on food, we see more and more common themes among certain diseases. One of those diseases is called Parkinsons. Parkinsons is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. Parkinsons is not as well understood but science is making strides on the disease.

This disease all starts in the mid brain and is associated with a loss of dopamine. Dopamine is necessary to send signals in your central nervous system o perform motor functions (such as movement). The nerve cells associated with dopamine slowly die off over time. These cells are not replaced, dopamine levels are reduced and your body can’t function properly. There are two famous celebrities that have Parkinsons: Muhammed Ali and Michael J. Fox. Parkinsons isn’t the only disease associated with low dopamine levels. They include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and schizophrenia to name a few.

Some people associate it with uncontrollable shaking. But the side effects include rigidity (muscle stiffness), movement slowness and difficulty walking. As the disease progresses, thinking and behavioral problems may arise, with dementia and depression commonly occurring in the advanced stages of the disease as well as sleep disorder and emotional problems. Parkinson’s disease is more common in older people especially after the age of 50.

What Causes Parkinsons?

Parkinson has been around for a long time and some cases are genetic due to a mutation in several genes. The larger portion of cases are due to a number of current environmental factors: pesticide exposure, head injuries, and living in the country or farming which has an indirect exposure to pesticides in well water and land. So protecting our food supply from pests is actually killing us slowly.

One of the most common pesticides used is called Dursban or Lursban and is a chlorpyrifos (crystal organophosphate insecticide). It kills insects by attacking their nervous systems and is mildly toxic to humans. Do you see the analogy? So one might ask how strong is the insecticide. Well on July 2013 several teaspoonful of concentrated chlorpyrifos were washed down a drain. The effects along the River Kennet included poisoned insect life and shrimp and fish along 15 km of the river.

 What Can Treat Parkinsons?

There is hope for patients who have been diagnosed with Parkinsons. One of the medical treatment options is Miraplex (pramipexole). Miraplex are prescription tablets that mimic the effects of dopamine in brain receptors. With the increase in dopamine, signals can move along the nerve endings from the brain to the central nervous system. So it helps treat the symptoms such as stiffness, tremors, muscle spasms, and poor muscle control. It has also been known to treat Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). It is the most common restless leg medication used to treat restless leg syndrome.

Pramipexole Side Effects

The side effects of pramipexole vary is seriousness from falling asleep during normal daytime activities such as working, talking, eating, or driving to increased sexual urges or unusual urges to gamble. There are some more simple side effects such as weight loss, loss of appetite, dry mouth, nausea, constipation, twitching and headaches.

If you are being treated for Parkinsons, then I think the side effects are tolerable considering what the symptoms from the disease are. But are the  side effects of mirapex for restless legs treatment worth it? That is one of the discussions you have to have with your doctor. Consider the fact that RLS is a neurological disorder characterized by throbbing, pulling, creeping, or other unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable, and sometimes overwhelming, urge to move them.

What has been your experience with Miraplex?