In
the news
Medication
News
Sifrol
ER - a new treatment option for people living with Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s
Victoria has recently been advised that Sifrol ER - a new
24 hr sustained release tablet form of Sifrol, will become
available on the 1st of August 2010 under the Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Sifrol
ER was given market authorisation in Europe in October 2009,
and is now going to be available in Australia under the
PBS (the government scheme which subsidises the cost of
medications).
In
clinical trials that supported the European authorisation,
the data showed more constant levels of plasma concentration
were achieved with a once a day tablet than with the three
times a day immediate release tablet.
The
24 hour release tablet will allow a more constant medication
level throughout the 24 hours potentially reducing the severity
of motor fluctuations, and for some people improving sleep
and assisting with night time difficulties.
Sifrol
ER will become available after the 1st of August 2010. Trials
and use in Europe indicate that you are easily able to switch
to Sifrol ER overnight from the immediate release tablet
taken three times daily. A once a day formulation also has
the benefit of reducing the numbers of tablets that are
needed in a day.
Sifrol
ER has all the same side effects as the other form of Sifrol,
with the most common side effect being nausea, constipation,
hallucinations, confusion, dizziness and swelling of the
feet.
Sifrol
ER also has the potential to cause some behavioural change
such as compulsive gambling, increased sex drive, compulsive
shopping or eating.
MEDIA
'Skin
cells used in Parkinson's research' article in the Age -
July 2010
This
article is on a research project in the UK that is using
the skin cells from people with Parkinson's to grow dopamine-producing
brain cells.
Click
here to read the article posted on The Age website
'Sergey
Brin's Search for a Parkinson's Cure' - June 2010
An
interesting article on Sergey Brin, the co-founder of Google,
about his genetic risk of developing Parkinson's and what
he is doing to reduce the odds.
Click
here to read the article posted on the Michael J. Fox Foundation
website
Deep
Brain Surgery segment on TodayTonight - March 2010
Deep
brain stimulation (DBS) works by targeting one of several
areas in the brain that are part of the movement disorder
pathway. By placing a fine wire (electrode) very precisely
within the desired area, we are able to introduce a small
amount of electrical current to these areas, which causes
deactivation of the nerve cells. This segment talks about
how DBS is not only an option for Parkinson's Disease, but
it is now also being used for treating other neurological
conditions.
Watch
the Today Tonight segment on Deep Brain Stimulation
John
'Strop' Cornell in the Herald Sun- March 2010
John
Cornell ( best known as Paul Hogan's hapless sidekick Strop)
underwent Deep Brain Stimulation 5 months ago and tells
his story to the Herald Sun about life post-surgery.
Read the Herald Sun article here about John 'Strop' Cornell
here
Nerissa
Mapes in the Woman's Day - December 2007
Nerissa
Mapes was diagnosed with Parkinson's at age 28. Read
her story in this article in Woman's Day.
Click
here to read the Woman's Day article (Use the
"Zoom" function to enlarge the article)
