Medications & treatments

Art therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses creative processes to improve physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. For people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD), art therapy can offer numerous benefits and serve as a complementary treatment.

Complementary therapies support wellbeing alongside traditional medical care by helping people with Parkinson's manage symptoms, reduce stress, and improve quality of life through gentle, non-invasive practices like movement, mindfulness, and creative expression.

When standard oral medications no longer control Parkinson’s symptoms effectively, Device-Assisted Therapies (DAT) can offer new options. These therapies provide continuous medication delivery or use electrical stimulation to smooth out motor fluctuations and improve quality of life.

Exciting possibilities are emerging in the field of Parkinson's treatment. New drug therapies are being tested for their potential to protect neurons and slow progression. Gene therapy and stem cell research, on the other hand, offer promising avenues for regenerating damaged brain cells and restoring lost functions. These developments are a testament to the innovative spirit driving Parkinson's research.

Levodopa remains the most effective medication for treating motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. It helps improve slowness, stiffness, tremor, and gait by replenishing dopamine levels in the brain. Levodopa must be combined with carbidopa to prevent nausea and ensure it reaches the brain effectively.

Levodopa works just as well chemically throughout the condition because it always makes dopamine. What changes is the brain's ability to use it smoothly as neurons are lost. This is a reason to optimise how we deliver it, not a reason to delay or discontinue it. It’s important to start medication while you still have the most neurons working, as this allows you to maximise symptom relief and preserve your independence for as long as possible, instead of struggling to work, parent or maintain relationships. Early treatment can improve mobility, reduce stiffness, and enhance overall wellbeing, giving you more opportunity to slow progression through exercise and maintaining social connections.

When medications and therapies no longer effectively manage Parkinson's motor symptoms, surgery may be the next step. Before deciding, it's crucial to undergo a thorough evaluation by a multidisciplinary team, including a neurologist and neurosurgeon, to assess the potential benefits and risks specific to your condition.

Red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation, uses low-level red and infrared light to stimulate cell activity, and early research suggests it may help improve movement, mood, and sleep in people living with Parkinson’s when used alongside medical care.

Vyalev® is a 24-hour continuous dopamine replacement therapy delivered via a small wearable pump designed for people with advanced Parkinson’s who experience motor fluctuations. Vyalev replaces oral levodopa/carbidopa with a liquid formulation infused under the skin to help manage those unpredictable “off” periods when symptoms return despite regular oral medication. Vyalev has helped many Australians regain independence, mobility, and quality of life.