This information came from the Facebook ONLINE PARKINSONS CHAT GROUP. My hubby never drinks more than a few sips when taking his pills. I don't know if I could get him to drink 8 oz at once.
As an RN specializing in PD, with a husband who has had PD for 23 years, I would like to share with you some of my knowledge to help you prevent some of the problems we have faced over the years. I posted in the group for a while, but then Marshall had a really bad year last year and I didn't have time to continue. He's doing better again, so I will try to post. If anyone has any specific questions, I am happy to help in any way I can.
One of the tidbits of info I shared a while ago is on the importance of taking medications properly. I am posting it again since we have so many new members of the group.
Taking your meds properly:
It is imperative that you drink a minimum of 8 oz of water with each dose of meds!!!!! Why...1. The meds must dissolve in order to be absorbed. 2. If there is not adequate liquid in the gut, the pills may just lay there and not work, so you take some more and it still doesn't work and finally you drink a bunch of liquids and they all kick in at once and you become psychotic due to drug overload. 3. PWP's have reduced gut motility which often results in constipation. If you are constipated, nothing is moving or getting absorbed. Increased liquids help the constipation and facilitate gut peristalsis or movement. The more the gut moves, the faster the absorption. More on constipation later... 4. Dehydration can cause a worsening of PD symptoms and hasten the progression of the disease. NOTE: If you are constipated, try chewing or allowing to dissolve in your mouth your Sinemet 25/100 immediate release to allow it to absorb through the oral mucosa vs the gut.. DO NOT CHEW SINEMET CR!!!
|
