Your Health

Walking To Help Parkinson’s Research

Posted 3/31/2011

Thousands of people are stepping up and stepping out to help fund Parkinson’s disease research.

(NAPSI) - Scientists are constantly conducting research to discover new and improved treatments for Parkinson’s disease (PD), a progressive neurological disorder. One way to help raise money for research during April, Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month, is to participate in or contribute to the Parkinson’s Unity Walk (PUW) in New York City taking place on April 16th.

PUW is run by a grassroots organization and is attended by more than 10,000 participants. All donations raised by walkers and contributors—millions of dollars over the past several years-go for research for PD. At this year’s event, mother, actress, talk show host, PD patient advocate and co-founder of the HollyRod Foundation, Holly Robinson Peete, will be at the Teva Neuroscience−sponsored AZILECT® (rasagiline tablets) booth. AZILECT® is the first once-daily treatment for people with PD.

PD is a debilitating disease affecting an estimated 500,000 Americans and can lead to symptoms such as:

• Tremor on one side

• Slow movements

• Stiff limbs

• Balance problems.

Currently, there is no cure for PD, but drugs relieve many symptoms of the disease. Learn more at www.unitywalk.org and AZILECT.com.

AZILECT® (rasagiline tablets) is indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) both as initial therapy alone and to be added to levodopa later in the disease.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT AZILECT

Patients should not take AZILECT if they are taking meperidine as it could result in a serious reaction such as coma or death. Also, patients should not take AZILECT with tramadol, methadone, propoxyphene, dextromethorphan, St.-John’s-wort or cyclobenzaprine. Patients should also not take AZILECT with other monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

Patients should inform their physician if they are taking, or planning to take, any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, especially antidepressants and ciprofloxacin. If patients have moderate to severe liver disease, they should not take AZILECT. Patients should not exceed a dose of 1 mg per day of AZILECT in order to prevent a possibly dangerous increase in blood pressure. All PD patients should be monitored for melanoma (skin cancer) on a regular basis.

Side effects seen with AZILECT alone are flu syndrome, joint pain, depression and indigestion; and when taken with levodopa are uncontrolled movements (dyskinesia), accidental injury, weight loss, low blood pressure when standing, vomiting, anorexia, joint pain, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, dry mouth, rash, abnormal dreams, and fall.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. To see full prescribing information, visit http://azilect.com/Resources/PDFs/PrescribingInformation-pdf.aspx.

About The Messenger | Copyright Notice
American River Messenger | Paul V. Scholl, Publisher
7405 Greenback Lane, #129 | Citrus Heights, CA 95610-5603 | Telephone: 916-773-1111 | Fax Line 916-773-2999
Email: publisher@AmericanRiverMessenger.com | Site Designed and Hosted by TheSiteBarn.com
ISSN#: 1948-1969