In this episode of our multi-award-winning podcast, a neurologist and a couple impacted by Parkinson’s meet to discuss apomorphine pump treatment – and its potential impact for people living with the condition
“I felt numb.” These are the words UK-based Bob Taylor uses to describe the moment he received his Parkinson’s diagnosis back in the late 1990s. “I didn’t hear much of the conversation afterwards – it came as a bit of a shock.”
More than 20 years on, Bob and his wife, Liz Taylor, have been on a “rollercoaster of a journey” together. During this time, they have explored several different treatment options to help manage his symptoms, including deep brain stimulation.
Among the options they have tried is an apomorphine pump – a small device that provides doses of a type of liquid dopamine agonist, which is primarily used to treat people in more ‘advanced’ stages of the condition.
“When Bob first started to use the apomorphine pump, it was primarily because he had been taking so much medication [to help manage his symptoms],” explains Liz, who has supported Bob as a caregiver throughout his experience. “He was having such severe ‘on-off’ periods that it was really difficult to get a good quality of life and to actually achieve anything on a daily basis. Using the pump has enabled Bob to carry on without these violent ‘on-off’ periods.”
An expert perspective
In this episode of the Parkinson’s Life podcast, Bob and Liz are joined by neurologist Dr Tove Henriksen – who shares her professional perspective on this kind of treatment.
Based at the Bispebjerg Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tove has been helping to treat people with the condition for around 30 years.
She explains that one advantage of an apomorphine pump is its potential to “diminish the motor fluctuations of the ‘on-off’ phenomena that you may have experienced. So, in that way, you can reduce the number of pills and the number of medications that will be necessary throughout the day.”
Tove encourages those considering this treatment option to consult others who have experience with the pump: “I can only say what it entails when you look at it from the outside, but the [people] who are using it – they can tell the whole story.”
Parkinson’s Europe is sharing this article for information purposes only; it does not represent Parkinson’s Europe’s views and is not an endorsement by Parkinson’s Europe of any particular treatments, therapies or products.
