Top medicines that worsen Parkinson’s disease or cause secondary parkinsonism
Medications to avoid
Some medications can worsen movement symptoms of PD, including slowness, stiffness, tremor and dyskinesia. These drugs, listed below, are used to treat psychiatric problems such as hallucinations (click here), confusion or gastrointestinal problems, such as nausea. The stress of your illness, hospital stay or new medicines can increase your risk of hallucinations while hospitalized (click here). Common anti-hallucination medicines to be avoided are listed by generic or chemical name followed by the trade name.
Anti-hallucination medicines to avoid
Note: the anti-hallucination medicines Quetiapine (Seroquel) or Clozapine (Clozaril) can be used. The following should be avoided:
Anti-nausea medicines to avoid
Medicines to avoid if you are on Rasagiline (Azilect) or Selegiline (Eldepryl)
Medications to avoid
Some medications can worsen movement symptoms of PD, including slowness, stiffness, tremor and dyskinesia. These drugs, listed below, are used to treat psychiatric problems such as hallucinations (click here), confusion or gastrointestinal problems, such as nausea. The stress of your illness, hospital stay or new medicines can increase your risk of hallucinations while hospitalized (click here). Common anti-hallucination medicines to be avoided are listed by generic or chemical name followed by the trade name.
Anti-hallucination medicines to avoid
Note: the anti-hallucination medicines Quetiapine (Seroquel) or Clozapine (Clozaril) can be used. The following should be avoided:
- aripiprazole (Abilify), chlorpromazine (Thorazine), flufenazine (Prolixin), haloperidol (Haldol), molindone (Moban), perphenazine (Trilafon), perphenazine and amitriptyline (Triavil), risperidone (Risperdol), thioridazine (Mellaril), thiothixene (Navane)
Anti-nausea medicines to avoid
- metoclopramide (Reglan), phenothiazine (Compazine), promethazine (Phenergan)
Medicines to avoid if you are on Rasagiline (Azilect) or Selegiline (Eldepryl)
- Pain medicines - Meperidine (Demerol), Tramadol (Ultram),Antispasmodic medicine Flexeril , Dextromthorphan and St Johns Wort
- This is not a complete list of medicines to avoid. If you have questions about other medications, ask your pharmacist or doctor.