Anesthesia

Because anesthetic medications can interact with Parkinson's medication, and because Parkinson's puts people at higher risk of experiencing side effects from anesthesia, your care team must understand these risks. Most people with Parkinson's tolerate anesthesia well. Still, special considerations are required, especially related to the timing of medications before and after surgery and the potential for neuropsychiatric problems, such as psychosis and confusion often following anesthesia.

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Typically, it is not recommended to stop taking your Parkinson's medications before receiving anesthesia. To ensure you continue to receive your medications on time during procedures requiring extended anesthesia, your hospital care team may be able to administer carbidopa/levodopa through a nasogastric tube. As we have stressed, you or your care partner must stress to your hospital team how crucial it is to receive your medications on schedule.

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Talk to your care team to see if you can avoid general anesthesia, which puts you completely to sleep. Instead, you could consider receiving local anesthesia, which numbs only one or a few body parts and tends to cause fewer side effects. Know, too, that if you experience worsening or new symptoms, such as psychosis, following anesthesia, this is typically short-lived. For questions about side effects and other risks, be sure to communicate with your physician, anesthesiologist, and other care team members.