Medications are an extremely important part of treatment for PWP.

I see the combination of optimal medication and an optimal exercise plan as the foundation for allowing individuals to stay active and healthy while living with Parkinson’s for decades!

I also think the healthcare system is not set up in a way for individuals to receive all the information, education and coaching they need to help them get optimized on their meds.

Tips:

Find a neurologist that you feel really comfortable talking too. You should be able to tell them about your experiences, your challenges and you should be able to ask them questions! They should take the time to explain things to you. You should know why you are taking medications, what they should help with, and what they might not help with.
Get really well educated about medications. Your neurologist is an expert in diagnosing Parkinson’s (and other conditions) and they are experts in medications. YOU are the expert in you, your life and your needs. If you can learn more about medications, you can COLLABORATE with your neurologist to determine which medications, what doses and on what schedule you can get to a much better place then if you rely on them to figure all of that out for you!
Determine your levodopa equivalent daily dose: https://www.parkinsonsmeasurement.org/toolBox/levodopaEquivalentDose.htm
This gives you an idea of where you are now, and can help you track changes over time and know what to expect with changes your neurologist recommends.
You can also use this chart to see your plasma levels (are there big ups and downs in your dopamine levels throughout the day or is it pretty smooth?)
https://www.parkinsonsmeasurement.org/toolBox/pharmacokinetics.htm
Complete the PRO-PD Self Assessment (remember print or save as a pdf before you hit “submit!” This will help you determine areas to focus on, communicate with your neurologist and know if those things you want to focus on are medication related, exercise related, etc.
https://redcap.bastyr.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=ts6Eh7

I look forward to putting together a great presentation! I will share the slides and a link to the presentation once we have it.