Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Degenerative Diseases
Degenerative Diseases
SUPPORT OF COPING
● Set achievable, realistic goals
● Encourage socialization, recreation and independence
● Plan programs of activity
● Make referrals to support groups and services: counselors,
social workers, and home care providers
MEDICATIONS
DOPAMINERGICS
● when given orally, medications such as LEVODOPA, are
converted to dopamine in the brain, increasing dopamine
levels in the basal ganglia.
● May be combined with CARBIDOPA (SINEMET) to decrease
peripheral metabolism of levodopa requiring a smaller dose to
make the same amount available to the brain. Side effects
are subsequently less.
● NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
○ Due to medication tolerance and metabolism, the client's
COMPLICATIONS
● MYASTHENIC CRISIS
○ Result of disease exacerbation or a precipitating event,
most commonly a respiratory infection
○ Severe generalized muscle weakness with respiratory
and bulbar weakness
○ Patient may develop respiratory compromise failure
● CHOLINERGIC CRISIS
○ Caused by overmedication with cholinesterase inhibitors
○ Severe muscle weakness with respiratory and bulbar
weakness
○ Patient may develop respiratory compromise and failure