Secondary Parkinsonism Overview
Learn About Secondary Parkinsonism
Secondary parkinsonism is when symptoms similar to Parkinson disease are caused by certain medicines, a different nervous system disorder, or another illness.
Parkinsonism refers to any condition that involves the types of movement problems seen in Parkinson disease. These problems include tremors, slow movement, and stiffness of the arms and legs.
Parkinsonism - secondary; Atypical Parkinson disease
Secondary parkinsonism may be caused by health problems, including:
- Brain injury
- Diffuse Lewy body disease (a type of dementia)
- Encephalitis
- HIV/AIDS
- Meningitis
- Multiple system atrophy
- Progressive supranuclear palsy
- Stroke
- Wilson disease
Other causes of secondary parkinsonism include:
- Brain damage caused by anesthesia medicines (such as during surgery)
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Certain medicines used to treat mental disorders or nausea (for example, metoclopramide and prochlorperazine)
- Mercury poisoning and other chemical poisonings
- Overdoses of narcotics
- MPTP (a contaminant in some street drugs)
Common symptoms include:
- Decrease in facial expressions
- Difficulty starting and controlling movement
- Loss or weakness of movement (paralysis)
- Soft voice
- Stiffness of the trunk, arms, or legs
- Tremor
Confusion and memory loss may be likely in secondary parkinsonism. This is because many diseases that cause secondary parkinsonism also lead to dementia.
If the condition is caused by a medicine, your provider may recommend changing or stopping the medicine.
Treating underlying conditions, such as stroke or infections, can reduce symptoms or prevent the condition from getting worse.
If symptoms make it hard to do everyday activities, your provider may recommend medicine. Medicines used to treat this condition can cause severe side effects. It is important to see your provider for check-ups. Secondary parkinsonism tends to be less responsive to medical therapy than Parkinson disease.
Georgia Lea is a Neurologist in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. Lea and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Secondary Parkinsonism. Her top areas of expertise are Parkinson's Disease, Secondary Parkinsonism, Drug Induced Dyskinesia, Essential Tremor, and Deep Brain Stimulation. Dr. Lea is currently accepting new patients.
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David Houghton is a Pediatric Neurologist and a Neurologist in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. Houghton and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Secondary Parkinsonism. His top areas of expertise are Parkinson's Disease, Drug Induced Dyskinesia, Secondary Parkinsonism, Essential Tremor, and Deep Brain Stimulation. Dr. Houghton is currently accepting new patients.
Administrators Of The Tulane Educational Fund
Neda Hidarilak is a Neurologist in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. Hidarilak and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Secondary Parkinsonism. Her top areas of expertise are Parkinson's Disease, Essential Tremor, Primary Orthostatic Tremor, and Drug Induced Dyskinesia. Dr. Hidarilak is currently accepting new patients.
Unlike Parkinson disease, some types of secondary parkinsonism may stabilize or even improve if the underlying cause is treated. Some brain problems, such as Lewy body disease, are not reversible.
This condition may lead to these problems:
- Difficulty performing daily activities
- Difficulty swallowing or eating
- Disability (differs from person to person)
- Injuries from falls
- Pneumonia from breathing in saliva or from choking on food
- Side effects of medicines
Effects from loss of strength and mobility (debilitation):
- Breathing food, fluid, or mucus into the lungs (aspiration)
- Blood clot in a deep vein (deep vein thrombosis)
- Malnutrition
Contact your provider if:
- Symptoms of secondary parkinsonism develop, come back, or get worse.
- New symptoms appear, including confusion and movements that cannot be controlled.
- You are unable to care for the person at home after treatment starts.
Treating conditions that cause secondary parkinsonism may decrease the risk.
People taking medicines that can cause secondary parkinsonism should be carefully monitored by their provider to prevent the condition from developing.
Summary: Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by many non-motor symptoms that occur several years before the diagnosis, in particular idiopathic REM behavior disorder (iRBD), which is associated with autonomic impairment. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of treatment with the selective post-synaptic a1-adrenergic blocker terazosin on 123I-MIBG myocardial uptake in a population of...
Summary: The purpose of this study is to investigate the long-term effects of treatment with the selective post-synaptic a1-adrenergic blocker terazosin on serial in a population of subjects with defined pre-motor Parkinson's disease (PD) risks and abnormal imaging exams. Imaging changes will be correlated to the presence and severity of motor and non-motor symptoms of PD, measured by validated clinical sc...
Published Date: March 31, 2024
Published By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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Ostrem JL, Okun MS. Parkinsonism. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 378.
Pringsheim T, Day GS, Smith DB, et al. Guideline Subcommittee of the AAN. Dopaminergic Therapy for Motor Symptoms in Early Parkinson Disease Practice Guideline Summary: A Report of the AAN Guideline Subcommittee. Neurology. 2021 Nov 16;97(20):942-957. PMID: 34782410 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34782410/.