A patient has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD)and begins treatment with levodopa/carbidopa [Sinemet]. After several months of therapy,the patient reports no change in symptoms. The nurse will expect the provider to:

Question

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Patients beginning therapy with levodopa/carbidopa should expect therapeutic effects to occur after several months of treatment. Levodopa is so effective that a diagnosis of PD should be questioned if the patient fails to respond in this time frame. Adding a dopamine agonist is not indicated. The "on-off" phenomenon occurs when therapeutic effects are present. Increasing the dose of levodopa/carbidopa is not indicated.

A Patient Has Been Diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease (PD)and Begins