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Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder common in old age. The current prevalence of this condition in the western world is estimated to be 0.3% of the entire population, and this value is expected to increase due to the ageing world population. Although there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, many therapies aimed to relieve patients from its motor and/or non-motor symptoms exist, both pharmacological and surgical such as levodopa and deep brain stimulation, respectively. However, these therapies have their own problems and disadvantages, for instance levodopainduced dyskinesia. As there is currently a movement bringing about the legalisation of cannabis use for medicinal purposes, many studies are being carried out to discover if cannabis or cannabinoids can be used as a treatment modality, hopefully with less side effects than current treatments, to alleviate patients suffering from Parkinson's disease from their symptoms. In this paper we seek to review the current treatment options available to these patients and what the latest studies in cannabinoids have determined with regards to their use in Parkinson's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a rare and potentially lethal reaction which is usually associated with the use of medications with antidopaminergic properties. This article describes the case of an elderly gentleman who developed the neuroleptic malignant syndrome after withdrawal of the anticholinergic agent benzhexol (trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride), which he was taking for Parkinson's disease. The patient improved rapidly after treatment was restarted. This case adds to the evidence that antidopaminergic agents may not be necessary for the development of this syndrome, and increased awareness of this possibility is advisable in such circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]