There is no cure for Parkinson's disease. Many patients are only mildly affected and need no treatment for several years after the initial diagnosis. When symptoms grow severe, doctors usually prescribe levodopa (L-dopa), which helps replace the brain's dopamine. Sometimes doctors prescribe other drugs that affect dopamine levels in the brain. In patients who are very severely affected, a kind of brain surgery known as pallidotomy has reportedly been effective in reducing symptoms. Another kind of brain surgery, in which healthy dopamine-producing tissue is transplanted into the brain, is also being tested. Finally, researchers are trying to identify substances that will prevent dopamine-producing brain cells from dying.

Treatment of PD takes many forms. A plan of treatment is best determined by a medical doctor. The nature of PD lends itself to study by neurological or movement disorder specialists. If you or a loved one think you may have Parkinson’s Disease, we recommend you see a Movement Disorder Specialist. You may call the Information and Referral Center at 210-567-6688 for a list of those in the San Antonio area.