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I have spastic paraplegia.Will dopamine help me?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I have spastic paraplegia. Everything I have tried has not worked. I was told to try a medication called L-Dopa. Will this medication help me?
Answered by Dr. Anshul Varshney

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Anshul Varshney is a highly skilled Critical Care Physician specializing in nephrology, pulmonology, and rheumatology. He is committed to providing advanced, life-saving care to critically ill patients while addressing complex medical conditions affecting the kidneys, lungs, and immune system. His holistic and multidisciplinary approach ensures comprehensive treatment tailored to individual patient needs.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

L- Dopa is Levodopa and is a drug for parkinson's disease.

It will help you in spastic paraplegia in case there is a deficiency of dopamine in substantia niagra of your brain.

It is definitely going to help you if there is any deficiency. But if there is no deficiency, it will be of no help.

In my clinical experience, Baclofen helps mostly in resistant cases.

For further follow up, consult a neurologist online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/neurologist

Patient's Query

Hi,

Thank you for your reply.

I have checked the symptoms due to deficiency of dopamine in the brain. I have most of the symptoms:

  • Depression.
  • Lack of pleasure. 
  • Lacking the feeling of attachments or love.
  • Distraction.
  • Chronic boredom.
  • Lack of satisfactory feeling.
  • Fatigue.
  • Oversleeping.
  • Decrease in physical energy.
  • Undesirability for exercise.
  • Mental distractibility.
  • To become solution oriented and not looking at the whole picture of a situation.
  • Trouble in focusing.
  • Less interest in relationship.
  • Becoming socially withdrawn.
  • Becoming apathetic.
  • Short attention span.
  • No balance.

Do all of these symptoms seem to present a very good possibility of deficiency of dopamine in my brain?

I also have a Baclofen pump, which has helped me only minimally.

Answered by Dr. Anshul Varshney

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Anshul Varshney is a highly skilled Critical Care Physician specializing in nephrology, pulmonology, and rheumatology. He is committed to providing advanced, life-saving care to critically ill patients while addressing complex medical conditions affecting the kidneys, lungs, and immune system. His holistic and multidisciplinary approach ensures comprehensive treatment tailored to individual patient needs.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

These symptoms are of depression and not dopamine deficiency.

  • The indication to use dopamine is in parkinson's disease and otherwise not.
  • So, there is no point in using the dopamine.
  • I would advice you to consult your doctor and start with SSRI group of drugs like Escitalopram.

All the symptoms that you have mentioned will improve with this drug.

I hope this information helps you.

If you have any further queries, consult a neurologist online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/neurologist

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At May 7, 2015
Reviewed At February 16, 2024

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Anshul Varshney is a highly skilled Critical Care Physician specializing in nephrology, pulmonology, and rheumatology. He is committed to providing advanced, life-saving care to critically ill patients while addressing complex medical conditions affecting the kidneys, lungs, and immune system. His holistic and multidisciplinary approach ensures comprehensive treatment tailored to individual patient needs.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

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Companion

Spastic Paraplegia, Dopamine, and Depression Companion

How it works

Spastic paraplegia can be a challenging condition. This section helps you understand the potential role of dopamine and other treatments, based on expert medical advice.

1

Spastic
Paraplegia

2

Levodopa
Help

3

Dopamine
Deficiency

4

Depression
Symptoms

5

Treatment
Options

6

Baclofen
Role

This information is based on general medical guidance. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice; consult a qualified clinician.

Always consult a doctor before taking medication; self-medication carries serious health risks. Take exact prescribed doses, and never start, change, or stop treatment without medical supervision.
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Dr. Anshul Varshney

Pulmonology (Asthma Doctors)

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Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Anshul Varshney is a highly skilled Critical Care Physician specializing in nephrology, pulmonology, and rheumatology. He is committed to providing advanced, life-saving care to critically ill patients while addressing complex medical conditions affecting the kidneys, lungs, and immune system. His holistic and multidisciplinary approach ensures comprehensive treatment tailored to individual patient needs.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality
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