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Motor Drug Therapies

Medications are available for both Motor Symptoms and Non-Motor Symptoms. On this page, we will provide an overview of common medications used to treat motor symptoms.

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Motor symptoms include any physical symptoms related to movement, such as:

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  • Tremor

  • Rigidity

  • Balance

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It is important to work with a Movement Disorder Specialist or Neurologist to help manage motor symptoms with medications. Because these symptoms are caused by changes in dopamine in the brain, most are used to replace, copy, or enhance the effect of dopamine.

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The following medications are commonly used to treat Motor Symptoms:

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  • Carbidopa / Levadopa

  • Dopamine Agonists

  • MAO-B Inhibitors

  • COMT-Inhibitors

  • Amantadine

  • Anticholinergics

  • Adenosine A2a Antagonists

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We take a deep dive into each of these. Click on the red box to learn more about each of these common medication categories.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this Parkinson Association of Alabama Resource Center is for awareness and educational purposes only about Parkinson's medication. The PAA does not endorse any specific brand or type of medication. All discussions about medication should be between you, your care partner, and your medical teams.

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Sources:

Davis Phinney Foundation. Parkinson's Treatments and Therapies. Chapter 7 - Medication. Page 109, Pages 125-131. Every Victory Counts. Sixth Edition. 2021.

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Marie, Lianna. Medications to Avoid. Chapter 37, page 112. Managing Medication Side Effects. Chapter 33, pages 100-101. Betting the Most Out of Medications. Chapter 35, pages 105-106. The Complete Guide for People with Parkinson's Disease and Their Loved Ones.  Purdue University Press, (C) 2022. 

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