Deck 46: Antiparkinson Agents

Question 1

A patient who has Parkinson's disease takes levodopa and carbidopa.The patient reports experiencing tremors between doses.The primary care NP should:

A) add entacapone.
B) add amantadine.
C) discontinue the carbidopa.
D) increase the dose of levodopa.

Answer 1

add entacapone.

Question 2

A patient who is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease will begin taking levodopa and carbidopa.The patient asks the primary care NP what dietary interventions may be helpful in improving symptoms.The NP should recommend:

A) consuming a high-calorie diet.
B) consuming a low-carbohydrate diet.
C) avoiding extra fluids during meal times.
D) minimizing intake of high-protein foods during the day.

Answer 2

minimizing intake of high-protein foods during the day.

Question 3

A patient who has Parkinson's disease takes levodopa and carbidopa.The patient asks the primary care nurse practitioner (NP)why two drugs are necessary.The NP should explain that both drugs are needed to:

A) prolong effects of the levodopa.
B) delay progression of the disease.
C) decrease adverse peripheral side effects.
D) enhance passage of both drugs across the blood-brain barrier.

Answer 3

decrease adverse peripheral side effects.

Question 4

A 65-year-old patient is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.The patient has emphysema and narrow-angle glaucoma.The primary care NP should consider beginning therapy with:

A) selegiline.
B) benztropine.
C) carbidopa/levodopa.
D) ropinirole hydrochloride.

Question 5

A patient who takes levodopa and carbidopa for Parkinson's disease reports experiencing freezing episodes between doses.The primary care NP should consider using:

A) selegiline.
B) amantadine.
C) apomorphine.
D) modified-release levodopa.

Question 6

A 55-year-old patient develops Parkinson's disease characterized by unilateral tremors only.The primary care NP will refer the patient to a neurologist and should expect initial treatment to be:

A) levodopa.
B) carbidopa.
C) pramipexole.
D) carbidopa/levodopa.

Question 7

A patient who has Parkinson's disease and who takes levodopa reports that the drug effects wear off more quickly than before.The primary care NP should:

A) add carbidopa.
B) add amantadine.
C) increase the dose of levodopa.
D) add a monoamine oxidase B inhibitor (MAO-B).

Question 8

A patient who has Parkinson's disease who takes levodopa and carbidopa reports having drooling episodes that are increasing in frequency.The primary care NP should order:

A) benztropine.
B) amantadine.
C) apomorphine.
D) modified-release levodopa.