A new treatment called Produodopa will soon be available for those suffering from advanced Parkinson’s disease. The treatment, which involves wearing a portable kit 24 hours a day, uses a pump to steadily deliver medicine into the bloodstream. Previously, many Parkinson’s patients had to take over 20 pills a day, which were often inconsistent in their effect. Some patients needed to be treated through a permanent feeding tube. Produodopa is a combination of two drugs, foslevodopa and foscarbidopa, which work to turn foslevodopa into the chemical dopamine, helping to manage Parkinson’s symptoms.
The infusion is delivered through a cannula under the patient’s skin and is controlled by a small, automatic pump. It releases a steady flow of treatment 24 hours a day, with the option of a manual boost if needed. Many Parkinson’s patients have reported that their symptoms worsen later in the day and during the night. James Palmer, the medical director for specialised services at NHS England, has called the drug’s rollout “great news”. The new treatment will be available to nearly 1,000 patients who aren’t suitable for other treatments, such as deep brain stimulation.
The drug was recently approved for NHS use by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) after successful clinical trials. John Whipps, 70, who took part in the research, has said his life is much more “plan-able” now that he is on the new treatment. Before, he had to take nearly 20 tablets a day just to control his Parkinson’s symptoms and would frequently wake up in the middle of the night with internal tremors. Another trial participant, Phil, 52, had to take 25 tablets daily, and his symptoms would fluctuate throughout the day, becoming worse at night.
Parkinson’s disease affects around 128,000 people in England, according to the NHS. It is a condition where parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years and is described by Parkinson’s UK as the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world. Laura Cockram, from the charity, said Produodopa could be a “life-changing option” for some people. However, it won’t be suitable for everyone, and Parkinson’s patients should speak to their consultant or Parkinson’s nurse to see whether it’s an option for them
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