DEAR DR. GOTT: I have Parkinson’s disease and have a great deal of saliva. I take two kinds of drugs — ropinirole and carbidopa/levodopa — and wonder if they are necessary.
DEAR READER: Parkinson’s is a neurological disorder with a myriad of symptoms, including fatigue, malaise, depression, memory loss, cramped handwriting, tremor, rigidity, gait abnormalities, lack of facial expression and sense of smell, and more. Postural instability develops as the disease progresses. Excess saliva is uncommon, but each person experiences different symptoms, so I won’t unequivocally dismiss any involvement with your diagnosis. [Read more...]