View source for Antiparkinson

An '''antiparkinson''', or '''antiparkinsonian''', is a type of [[drug]] which is intended to [[therapy|treat]] and relieve the [[symptom]]s of [[Parkinson's disease]] (PD) or [[Parkinsonism]]. Most of these agents act by either increasing [[dopamine]] activity or reducing [[acetylcholine]] activity in the [[central nervous system]] (CNS).

== Examples ==
* [[L-DOPA]] (Levodopa) & [[Carbidopa]]: L-DOPA enters the brain and is converted into dopamine; Carbidopa prevents the peripheral synthesis of dopamine from L-DOPA to prevent undesirable sympathomimetic side effects.
* [[Selegiline]], [[Rasagiline]]: prevent the metabolism of dopamine by [[MAO-B|MAO<sub>B</sub>]] and hence increase its brain levels.
* [[Entacapone]], [[Tolcapone]]: prevent the metabolism of dopamine by [[Catechol-O-methyl transferase|COMT]] and hence increase its brain levels.
* [[Apomorphine]], [[Bromocriptine]], [[Pramipexole]], [[Ropinirole]], [[Rotigotine]]: dopamine receptor agonists which directly increase the activity of the dopamine system.
* [[Anticholinergic]]s - [[Antimuscarinic]]s (e.g., [[Benzatropine]]): to prevent hyperkinesia.

== See also ==
* [[Acetylcholine]]
* [[Dopamine]]
* [[Parkinson's disease]]
* [[Parkinsonism]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}


{{Major drug groups}}
{{Antiparkinson}}
{{Cholinergics}}
{{Dopaminergics}}



[[Category:Drugs]]


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[[Category:2Fix]]