First Parkinson’s Drug In a Skin Patch
Last Month the FDA approved the first drug in the United States to be delivered through a skin patch for the control of symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease. It is called Neupro (rotigotine). The advantage over existing prescription drugs is that it is applied once a day (every 24 hours), compared to existing medications for this condition, which are taken orally several times a day. The person wearing the patch gets a constant delivery of drug over the 24 hour period. Researchers believe this is beneficial in that a consistent level of the drug is available around the clock.
Neupro, and the oral drugs that work the same way, replace the body’s supply of dopamine, a chemical that is lost or minimized in persons with Parkinson’s disease. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter substance which is necessary for communication between nerve cells that control muscle movement. When it is not present as it should be, the person affected experiences uncontrolled movement, such as trembling of the hands and face, stiffness (rigidity) of the limbs, and slowness of movement. They may have trouble walking, talking, or completing simple tasks.