Caution with drugs

[bubee]

Just a caution to everyone. My husband was recently in the hospital with rapid atrial fibrillation. They used two drugs on him that apparently should not be used for Parkinson’s one was a calcium channel blocker the other was amiodarone commonly used for heart arrhythmia these drugs block dopamine receptors My poor husband was on them two months before a nurse friend researched his drugs and found this out his doctors looked them up themselves when I brought the info to them and immediately stopped both drugs Neither drug had helped his heart at all anyway They put him on an old drug called digoxin and he immediately converted to a normal rhythm Be very custious and do your homeworK. He suffered for two months without his Parkinson’s meds working Thank God my friend found this out My husband had been off the two drugs for over three weeks now and is just now starting to recover. No calcium channel blockers or amiodarane —look everything up yourselves

There are lists of drugs that are no no’s for Parkinson’s. Bubee

[wifeofparky]

My husband also had atrial fib. His cardiologist wanted to put him on Cardizem which would also drop his blood pressure and he had orthostatic hypotension. I am a nurse and having gone through other drug related issues, I protested and asked for alternatives. He was put on digoxin which worked and did not interfere with his PD meds.

I got a list of drugs that are not good for PD people from the Parkinson's Foundation. I carried it with us to all doctors appointments and questioned any new med orders. Since all drugs are electronically ordered now, you do not have time to research them BEFORE you pick them up.

[bubee in reply to wifeofparky]

Yes. I asked the doc to try digoxin and it converted him after two doses. Oldie but goodie vigilance is the key. Bubee

[brikar in reply to wifeofparky]

Can you share your list?

[bubee in reply to brikar]

Go to Parkinson’s disease web site and type on drugs to be avoided. Lots of good info. Also drugs that induce Parkinson’s symptoms.

[wifeofparky in reply to brikar]

Like bubee said- go to Parkinson.com for the list and lots of other free info. They are a great resource. I also suggest requesting the Aware in Care kit. It is a bag to take with you to appointments or when going to the hospital. It has a list of meds to avoid plus tips on how to get through the hospital stay with fewer problems, an ID card and bracelet and other helpful items

[bubee in reply to wifeofparky]

Great info thanks. Bubee

[pvw2]

Was he also taking the PD Medication: "Dopamine agonists: Activates dopamine receptors and helps in managing the disease: Bromocriptine . Pergolide . Pramipexole . Ropinirole"

bing.com/search?q=parkinson...

[bubee in reply to pvw2]

He is on sinemet. No agonists at present

[faridaro]

Thanks for sharing this unfortunate experience - this is something everybody should be aware of!

[Goldencbc]

I was put on Cardizem after diagnosis of afib and for 2 months felt like I was dying. I said this to a cardiologist friend of mine and she told me to stop and call my cardiologist immediately and demand a different drug. I did and now take a low dose of Zebeta and use Flecanide as needed. Much better.

[bubee in reply to Goldencbc]

Cardizem is a calcium channel blocker. No no’s for Parkinson’s. YourZebeta is a beta blocker. They are ok for Parkinson’s

[gwendolinej]

My husband was in hospital this week and it was discovered that he was on two incompatible drugs. One is Xadago, (a PD drug), which he is taking with the antidepressant Escitalopram. Xadago is a MAO inhibitor and Escitalopram is a SSRI inhibitor. And together they risk serotonin syndrome apparently.

[bubee in reply to gwendolinej]

Another example of mistakes that should not happen. Somewhere along

The line there should be someone cross checking all drugs against each other. A pharmacist would be good. Bubee

[gwendolinej in reply to bubee]

Yes, our pharmacist is very apologetic.

Xadago is not used readily. Our pharmacist orders it in for us. The neurologist and the psychiatrist should also take responsibility and they have. I suspect their software will get updated.

My husband's PD is very complicated "not your garden variety" apparently. And I see this from this site.

[bubee in reply to gwendolinej]

I hope everything turns out ok for your husband. Mine is still affected by the mistake Sleeping all the time and still being weaned from a ventilator. Bubee

[gwendolinej in reply to bubee]

I just checked a couple of sites re drug interaction, one was recommended by someone here. They didn't pick up on Xadago and Escitalopram, but drugbank.ca did.

[Hidden]

I am on a calcium channel blocker, amlodipine and it causes no problems.

[bubee in reply to Hidden]

How long have you been on it?

[Hidden in reply to bubee]

About 8 years

[bubee in reply to Hidden]

According to the list it’s one of the classes of drugs that can cause Parkinson’s like symptoms. Usually go away after stopping the drug. Except sometimes tremor doesn’t

[Hidden in reply to bubee]

Started it after my PD diagnosis.

[bubee in reply to Hidden]

Glad that it helps you with no side effects

[bepo]

We helped a man who was on 25 different medications. He was on hospice care. He needed oxygen 24 hours a day. We gave him ozone saunas. He is now off all medications, changed his diet and started supplements. It has been 2 years. His drugs were the problem.

[Auddonz]

Hi, I am sorry, it has been 3 year since my husband died and I don't remember.

[Hidden]

My Mom just signed up with Hospice because of stage 4 metastatic bladder cancer., and that is one of my fears, that the nurses and doctors will not be cautious about making sure all med changes will work with her parkinson meds.

[bubee in reply to Hidden]

I am so sorry about your Mum. I hope it goes ok. All you can do is keep your computer handy and cross check. Bubee

[Pnyldy]

You ain't kidding, bubee! I had a wild night after a physician's assistant prescribed Zofran (usually for nausea). I keep all my medications on Drugs.com and anytime some one suggests something new, I run it through to see if there are any interactions. Drugs.com also has an app for your phone which is handy. Unfortunately, you can't depend on the doctor's office OR the pharmacy to do this.

[bubee in reply to Pnyldy]

That is a great website.

Have found another error here at the ventilator rehab unit where they are weening him. Turns out they have been giving him his Parkinson's Meds every six hour rather than every three as it should. be for him. I was wondering why he was zombie like so decided to question the nurse! Now I know why '!

Vigilance everyone. Bubee