The Parkinson's Disease Treatment Book: Partnering with Your Doctor to Get the Most from Your Medications

By J. Eric Ahlskog

Book Overview

Nearly one million Americans, including Michael J. Fox and Muhammad Ali, suffer from Parkinson's Disease. Now, a leader in the fight against Parkinson's, Dr. J. Eric Ahlskog of the Mayo Clinic, has written the definitive guide for patients and their families.
Dr. Ahlskog offers a crystal-clear, nuts-and-bolts approach to the treatment of PD, distilled from over twenty years of experience as a clinician and researcher. His goal is to educate the patient so that they can better team with their doctor to do battle with the disease, streamlining the decision-making process and enhancing their treatment. To do this, Dr. Ahlskog offers a gold mine of information: How do I know if I have PD? What kinds of tests can I take? What medications slow the progress of the disease? What if medications don't help my tremor? What kinds of movement problems may develop later? How can I cope with insomnia and daytime sleepiness, dizziness and depression, memory problems, paranoia, and delusions? Indeed, the book covers virtually every topic related to Parkinson's, from sexual impotence and skin rashes, to the role of nutrition, exercise, and physical therapy. In addition, Dr. Ahlskog discusses brain surgery (though he urges that patients only consider this as a last resort) and such experimental therapies as stem cell transplantation and gene therapy. There are also lists of support and advocacy groups and Internet sites that focus on Parkinson's.
The ultimate guide to symptoms and treatment, this superb book is the first place patients should turn for reliable, easy-to-grasp information on Parkinson's disease.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195171934
• ISBN13: 9780195171938
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 544 Pages
• Weight: 2.12 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.3" x 1.9" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Thanks Dr. Ahlskog for Caring Enough About Your Patients to Write this book!

Dr. Ahlskog shares his vast knowledge, expertise and caring bedside manner in this book. It is specifically written, in user friendly language, for families dealing with Partinson's. It answers any and all questions one might have concerning the disease and treatment of it. It is an absolute 'MUST HAVE' book for Parkison's Families..

My Mom is taking this book to the doctor for discussion points

This book recommends using it to help discuss with your doctor the PD medications, which is exactly what my Mom is going to do today. When I saw this book recently it was what my Mom had been wishing for to help her figure out how to help my Dad, who is developing Parkinson's hallucinations and paranoia issues after many years of battling this disease. These are known problems from both the disease, as well as the medications to treat the illness. The book gave me renewed hope and optimism for helping my Dad be more himself again. Adjustments of the various prescribed medications can make a difference in life quality by balancing medication negative side effects with their benefits. My Mom is taking my Dad to the doctor today to discuss his medications and she taking this book with her. It's nice to know she has the Mayo clinic doctor, in essence, to take with her to discuss points with the local doctor. Concerned daughter

Excellant Info Resource for Layman

This is a "MUST HAVE" book for the Parkinson's patient. This book is written in user friendly language. Provides insightful information to help understand your condition. Excellant guidance to the receipt of maximum drug therapy benefits. Recomended by Movement Disorder Specialist.

Wonderful Resource Book

This book is well-written and thorough, with great depth of information and compassion for those with the disease. A wonderful resource.

Great Resource

This is a wonderful resource book that is written in layman's terms. It seems to cover all aspects of the disease. Our personal physcian was impressed with the book.