i have all symptoms of parkinson disease, is it possible that medication caused this illness ?

Question

the reason i believe that medications caused my parkinson's is because i take anti-psychotic drugs which cause tremor or shaking, but now i have all symptoms of parkinson's like: depression, anxiety, and most of all bad shakes ( tremor ). My doctor advised me that shaking is acctually side effect of medications and will eventually stop, but the truth is it is getting worse, I shake so much every day being unable to bring food to my mouth or to bring cup of coffee to my mouth as well because my hands are shaking so much and now even my jaw or lips is shaking. Do not know what to do, cause I think if drugs caused my illness I should have right to ask for compensation from the drug company, because it is not right to sell medications which cause this illness - parkinson's disease, and I have already found some articles on the internet that support what I have said, about anti-pshichotic drugs which may cause parkinson's. Any thoughts about this issue ?? Do I have right to claim compensation from a company that make or sell this medications which are obvious toxic to my health ?

Answer 1

Since you did not list the medications you are taking, there is no way we can cross check for drug interactions. It is possible that your parkinsonian symptoms are indeed caused by your medication(s) but please know that in the listing of side effects and drug interactions, these are often disclosed as potential side effects.



Anti-psychotics can do some pretty unpleasant things to the chemical homeostasis in your brain (and consequently your body)



What did your second opinion doctor feel? Yes, I know you didn't mention an appointment, but you should certainly consider it. Make a list of your medications, the dosage and then make a list of your symptoms in order of appearance.



Has your doctor suggested any medication change in an attempt to isolate the cause of the tremors since that is what he feels is at the root of your tremors. Has he had you titrate down from one and so on? This would make sense. And if you intended to pursue legal restitution, it would be important.



Everyone has the right to sue for compensation but you would have to have a evidence/proof in order for it to proceed. At this time, you do not appear to have established that the anti-psychotics you were prescribed are the cause of your tremors.



Even if you were not trying to make a legal case, you are trying to do more that survive, you are trying to live with a higher quality of life. What are you and your doctor doing about that?



You have described 3 of many symptoms of PD. You have also described 3 symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) As a matter of fact, you describe symptoms which can be attributed to several neurological, endocrine or psychological disorders.



So the answer is yes, it is possible that medication or presciption medication combined with over-the-counter medication might have caused your symptoms. It is also possible that you have another as yet undiagnosed condition.

And the answer to the second part of your question is yes, you have the right but at this point your case is not read for prime time.



Please follow through on finding the cause.

Answer 2

First of all I wish to say that I am NOT a doctor, but I worked with elderly, mentally infirm people for a number of years ... that's people suffering with various types of dementia (organic brain failure) ... and I can tell you that, based on my experience, you CAN develop Parkinsonism, which is NOT the same as Parkinson's Disease, from taking medications.



Whether you can actually claim compensation from the drug company/ies that make or sell the medication, I'm afraid I can't help you as I don't have any legal qualification(s) either.



If you believe that you may have a case, I'd suggest that you speak with a lawyer/attorney to find out where you stand.



Sadly, I'm of the opinion that you'd be unlikely to win compensation but, as I said, I don't have any legal training. A lawyer/attorney may well believe that you do have a case.



One argument that I could see a doctor throwing against you would be that, taking all things into consideration, it might have been deemed a necessary risk to aid you with your other problems. This does NOT mean that I think that's right. I most certainly don't.



Some things that will be taken into consideration would include how long you've been taking the medication(s) that you believe have caused your symptoms; whether you were made aware of any side-effects that could happen from taking these medications; your doctor's response to any complaint you made about how your symptoms were getting worse; whether your doctor actually made changes to your medication; and perhaps a whole host of other things.



Unfortunately, my friend, drug companies tend to be massive corporations that have enormous profits and doctors/researchers which they could plough [plow, if you're one of my American cousins] into fighting their case. This COULD mean that a court case could last for years and years ... even to the point that you'd have passed over to the 'other side' before any case is settled.



The biggest difficulty I envisage you coming up against is that it's doubtful that you could find a doctor willing to stand up against the drug company/ies and argue that it is DEFINITELY as a result of you taking these medications that caused you to develop Parkinsonism. Who's to say that you wouldn't have developed it anyway? This, in my humble opinion, would be one of the arguments that said drug company would put forward.



If you do decide to check out whether you have a case or not, I wish you the very best of luck.

Answer 3

While it may be possible, it's more likely this is a side effect of the medication you are taking that would stop if the medication was withdrawn. I've worked with lots of people on anti-psychotics that experience tardive dyskinesia, they took side effect medication - as for the depression and anxiety, hard to say if that is a symptom of medication or a symptom of your existing condition. The doctor does not seem worried, however if you feel this has become more difficult to live with than the original condition, ask the doctor to consider changing your meds or adding in additional meds to control the side effects.

Answer 4

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