Reducing dosage of Parkinson's drugs can cause symptoms similar to those of cocaine withdrawal
Monday, January 11, 2010 - 17:14
in Health & Medicine
New research has shown that reducing the dosage of dopamine agonist (DA) drugs, a mainstay treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD), sometimes causes acute withdrawal symptoms similar to those reported by cocaine addicts -- including anxiety, panic attacks, depression, sweating, nausea, generalized pain, fatigue, dizziness and drug cravings. These symptoms can be severe, and are not alleviated by other PD medications.