New Drug Reduces Severe Shaking in Parkinson’s Patient
A 52-year-old man with Parkinson’s disease has experienced a significant transformation after starting a new drug treatment. Damian Gath was diagnosed ten years ago with a condition that causes involuntary shaking.
Gath, who was the head of operations at a communications firm, noticed symptoms when he began losing the use of his fingers and dropping objects. After seeing a neurologist, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a disease he had little knowledge of.
Gath tried every available oral medication to manage the disease’s effects, but each one brought severe side effects, including hallucinations, paranoia, depression, and anxiety.
In June, following the drug’s approval by England’s National Health System (NHS), Gath became one of the first patients in the country to receive Produodopa. This treatment, delivered through a small pump under the skin, provides a more gradual release of medication, offering better symptom management. Gath described the treatment as revolutionary.
A video shared by SWNS shows the remarkable change in Gath’s condition after just one week. He could make a cup of coffee with ease, a task that was previously challenging due to spastic upper body movements. Gath reported that he now experiences less pain and can sleep well at night, unlike before when his symptoms would return after his medication wore off.
Dr. Nishantha Silva from Sherwood Forest Hospital, where Gath was treated, stated that the successful use of Produodopa marks a new era in managing advanced Parkinson’s disease. The NHS plans to extend the therapy to other patients soon.