Long-term Methylphenidate Monotherapy for Parkinson’s: Biochemistry Analysis and 17 Year Case Study

Abstract

Background: Information in this study can improve the health and quality of life of over ten million people with Parkinson’s. This paper presents long-term treatment of Parkinson’s with Methylphenidate that was found safe and effective to use instead of traditional anti-Parkinsonians such as Carbidopa-Levodopa and Pramipexole that cause augmentation (neural damage), excessive sedation, sudden passing out and slowed cognition. Methylphenidate strengthens and protects neural tissues and sustains normal alertness and cognition. Methods: This article analyzes the neurobiochemistry of Methylphenidate-therapy vs. AntiParkinsonian-therapy based on this author’s review of over 400 published studies and guidelines. This article also presents a Case Study involving a case-subject who has a very severe Parkinson’s disorder with a well-documented nine years of AntiParkinsonian-therapy followed by eight years of Methylphenidate-therapy. The case-subject is a 66 year-old male with a PhD who is a published Neurobiochemistry Researcher. At age-55 he was medically documented as disabled and needing medications to function. At age-58 his illness and the adverse effects of APs jointly caused total disability for which there was no known remedy. Thus he conceived and designed the world’s first long-term Methylphenidate treatment of Parkinson’s and implemented it with the cooperation of a prescribing Physician. Results: Adjunctive 30 mg doses of diurnal Methylphenidate overcame adverse effects of AntiParkinsonians. 20 mg doses of diurnal Methylphenidate monotherapy controlled Parkinson’s illness better than AntiParkinsonians. A 3-hour dosing schedule resulted in smooth and uninterrupted efficacy between and across doses of Methylphenidate. Sequential doses every three hours extended efficacy duration to 16 hours. Continued high-dose AntiParkinsonians at bedtime gave good sleep. Conclusion: This author recommends that clinicians use these findings to replace diurnal AntiParkinsonians with diurnal Methylphenidate in order to provide safer and more effective long-term treatment of Parkinson’s illnesses.