Treatments: Clozapine (Clozaril)

How It Works:

Some of the possible side effects of chronic L-dopa usage can be hallucinations, and even psychosis. These have been treated fairly successfully with clozapine, an anti-psychotic, which also tends to diminish Parkinsonian tremors and diskinesias. Clozapine also helps severely afflicted Parkinson's patients sleep better, by reducing their nighttime restlessness. Its biological mechanism is currently unknown.

Side-Effects:

• Low blood pressure

  Excess saliva

  Drowsiness

  Seizures

  Agranulocytosis (loss of white blood cells)

Information from:

Parkinson's Disease at Harvard

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