The list includes a few medications that people with Parkinson's disease should avoid. Metoclopramide (brand name Reglan) is a medication that relieves digestive issues like nausea. Tacrine is an Alzheimer's medication. Both of these medications often make Parkinson's symptoms worse.
Many common antipsychotics are not recommended for people with Parkinson's. They can actually increase the intensity of delusions, paranoia, and hallucinations.
This week the medical journal Annals of Internal Medicine published an article that showed that few of the medications on the Beers Criteria list are responsible for negative reactions. However, there are three medications which account for approximately one-third of the emergency room visits for adverse drug events. They are:
- Warfarin, a the popular blood thinner also called Coumadin.
- Insulin, the hormone that helps diabetics process blood sugar.
- Digoxin, a heart medication also known under the brand names, Digitek, Lanoxicaps, and Lanoxin.
Putting the issue into perspective, if a person with type 1 diabetes did not use insulin the results would be alaming within 24 hours. Insulin's side effects are preferable to not taking it. Doctors and patients need to consider the risks and the benefits of a medication before making a decision. People living with Parkinson's disease should almost certainly avoid mainstream antipsychotics, metoclopramide, and tacrine. Nevertheless, doctors and pharmacists know when there are exceptions.
People with Parkinson's over the age of 65 may need digoxin, insulin, and warfarin. It is just important to remember that these medications and the other medications on the Beers Criteria list come with higher risks.
Source:
Annals of Internal Medicine, December 2007
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