Medically reviewed by Mr. Pratik Masal, MBA (Healthcare Management)
Medicine-induced parkinsonism is the appearance of parkinsonian symptoms — tremor, muscle stiffness and slowness of movement — caused by a medication rather than by Parkinson's disease. It is most often linked to certain antipsychotics and anti-nausea drugs, and it is frequently reversible once the medicine is reviewed. Sharanam provides supervised residential care while that review and recovery take place.
What the treatment involves
- Physician-led medication review to identify the drug likely responsible — commonly an antipsychotic or an anti-nausea medicine.
- Careful adjustment or substitution of that medicine, never an abrupt stop of a needed psychiatric drug without supervision.
- Monitoring for recovery of movement as the medication change takes effect.
- Physiotherapy for mobility, balance and falls prevention in the meantime.
- Supportive personal care while stiffness and slowness limit daily activity.
What to realistically expect
Because the symptoms are caused by a medicine rather than by the disease itself, many people improve substantially once the drug is adjusted — though recovery can take weeks to months and is occasionally incomplete. This is an important distinction from Parkinson's disease, which is progressive; where the diagnosis turns out to be the latter, care continues through our Parkinson's care program.