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Guideline Issued for Treating Sleep, Constipation, Sexual Problems in Parkinson’s Disease ST. PAUL, Minn -- March 16, 2010 -- The American Academy of Neurology has issued a new guideline recommending the most effective treatments to help people with Parkinson’s disease who experience sleep, constipation, and sexual problems, which are common but often underrecognised symptoms. The guideline is published in the March 16 print issue of the journal Neurology. “While the main symptom of Parkinson’s disease is movement problems, there are many other symptoms to be aware of, including sleep disorders, constipation, and problems with urination and sexual function,” said lead guideline author Theresa A. Zesiewicz, MD, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida. “Without treatment, these symptoms can cause as much pain and discomfort as movement problems and greatly affect daily routines and quality of life.” Sexual problems often affect people with Parkinson’s disease. In men with Parkinson’s, erectile dysfunction is common. According to the guideline, sildenafil citrate may improve erectile dysfunction. The guideline also found that isosmotic macrogol may improve constipation in people with Parkinson’s disease. For problems with excessive daytime sleepiness, the guideline recommends that doctors consider modafinil to help people feel more awake. However, it’s important to note that a study showed people taking modafinil had a false sense of alertness. This may pose a safety risk for activities such as driving. The guideline also found the drug methylphenidate may help with fatigue. The guideline mentions 2 tests to help identify nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. One is the NMSQuest rating scale. The other is the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). The original UPDRS mainly tests for movement problems. “More research is needed into these symptoms of Parkinson’s disease since there are still a lot of unknown answers as to what causes these symptoms and how they can best be treated to improve lives,” said Dr. Zesiewicz. SOURCE: American Academy of Neurology E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version