What are common side effects of the drug levodopa?
Side effects of levodopa include the “wearing-off” effect (the patient’s response to levodopa may become progressively shorter over time, resulting in a marked, predictable decline in function before the next dose is administered) and dyskinesia. • What are the leading causes of nursing facility placement among PD patients? Among PD patients, dementia and delirium are the leading causes of nursing facility placement. • When should pharmacotherapy for PD patients be initiated? Because of the narrow risk/benefit of PD medications, pharmacotherapy for PD patients should be initiated only after nonpharmacologic therapy alone has failed and should be combined with nonpharmacologic therapy. • What medication may be an appropriate first-line therapy for patients over age 70, especially those with dementia? Levodopa may be preferable for patients over age 70, especially those with dementia. These patients are at higher risk for side effects (e.g., confusion, hallucinations, hypotension, nausea
