DBS Therapy for Parkinson’s has been approved by the FDA to treat shaking, stiffness, or difficulty moving. DBS Therapy has helped people continue working, care for their families, return to favorite activities, and experience the joy of doing the simplest things in life again.
Clinical evidence* has shown that when added to medication, DBS:
- Provides 5 additional hours of good movement control each day compared to medication alone.
- Improves quality of life more than medications alone and makes routine daily activities easier.
- Significantly reduces medication use, which may mean fewer medication—‐ related side effects.
*Medtronic DBS Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease and Essential Tremor Clinical Summary, 2013.
DBS Therapy extends the control you already get from your medication for movement symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Here you can find out about the benefits of DBS Therapy and safety considerations. Then you will be prepared for a conversation with your doctor about whether DBS Therapy may be right for you. The following benefits compare DBS with medications versus medications alone.
Treats Tremors and More
DBS Therapy has been approved by the FDA to treat movement symptoms of Parkinson’s: shaking, stiffness, and difficulty moving.
5 More Hours of Good Movement Control
DBS provides 5 additional hours of good movement control each day compared to medication alone.* Think about what 5 more hours a day would mean for you.
Improves Quality of Life
DBS Therapy improves quality of life more than medications alone.*
Makes Routine Daily Activities Easier
DBS makes it easier to do routine daily activities1 like take a bath, get dressed, write clearly, and drink from a glass.
Significantly Reduces Medication Use
Most DBS patients take less medication, reducing medication—‐related side effects like sudden twists and rolling movements. In a clinical study, by six months DBS had reduced medication—‐related side effects by 44%.* Less medication may also simplify your medication routine, with fewer pills or less frequent doses.
Established Therapy for Over 10 Years
While DBS may be new to you, it’s been helping people with Parkinson’s for more than 10 years. Today, it is used all over the world. Over 100,000 patients have received DBS Therapy for Parkinson’s disease, dystonia*, or essential tremor.**
*Programmed for Your Needs * Your doctor programs the device to best control your individual symptoms. This is done wirelessly. The system can also be turned off if necessary. You may have a controller that will allow you to turn the system on and off, adjust the stimulation, and check the battery.
MRI Conditionally Safe
Someday you may need a magnetic resonance image (MRI) head scan to diagnose the cause of a common condition, such as hearing loss, headache, vision problems, seizures, tumors, or stroke. All Medtronic DBS systems are designed so that an MRI head scan is possible with proper safeguards.
Keeps Your Future Options Open
DBS Therapy will not reduce your future therapy options. DBS Therapy is reversible and the system can be removed (unlike other surgical options). Down the road, you can continue medications and take advantage of new treatments, or even a cure.
*Medtronic DBS Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease and Essential Tremor Clinical Summary, 2013. **Medtronic, data on file.
***Weaver FM, Follett KA, Stern M, et al. Bilateral Deep Brain Stimulation vs Best Medical Therapy for Patients with Advanced Parkinson Disease.JAMA. 2009;301(1):63-73.