Parkinson’s Disease Treatment: How to Choose Between Medication and Surgery?

When Parkinson’s patients seek medical treatment, doctors often present both medication and surgical options, leaving many unsure which approach best suits their condition. Below, we clarify the relationship between these two treatment methods.

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Medication: The Primary Treatment for Parkinson’s

Currently, drug therapy remains the cornerstone of Parkinson’s treatment, suitable for most patients. In early stages, medications effectively alleviate and control symptoms. Even in advanced stages—when drug efficacy declines—they still play an irreplaceable role.

However, as symptoms worsen in mid-to-late stages, the balance between benefits and side effects becomes precarious. Increasing dosages may offer only brief relief, leaving patients suffering during prolonged “off” periods (when medications wear off).

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Surgery: When Medication Falls Short

For patients with diminishing drug response, surgical interventions like deep brain stimulation (DBS, or “brain pacemakers”) can:

• Extend medication effectiveness.
• Reduce symptom severity during “off” periods.
• Lower required drug doses and decrease side effects (e.g., dyskinesia).
• Significantly improve quality of life.

Key Insight: These methods are complementary, not mutually exclusive. Medication isn’t meant to avoid surgery, nor does surgery eliminate the need for drugs. The optimal strategy for mid-to-late-stage patients combines both—“a pill in one hand, a DBS device in the other.”