- author, Dan Martin
- role, BBC News, East Midlands
A man with Parkinson’s disease says a new drug has changed his life within days.
Damien Gass, 52, said he suffered from a neurological disorder that caused involuntary tremors and pain every day for years, making it difficult for him to carry out everyday tasks.
Last week Gus became the first patient in the East Midlands to be treated with the new drug Produodopa.
His wife Amanda filmed her before the treatment and then two days later showing the “amazing, life-changing” results.
Image source, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Gus was first diagnosed with the disease 12 years ago, when it caused gradual damage to parts of his brain over a period of years.
The NHS says that while Parkinson’s disease does not directly kill people, it can take a significant toll on the body and make people more susceptible to serious and life-threatening infections.
Gus was given a new IV therapy treatment on July 10th.
Before undergoing treatment, Gus filmed her husband shivering as he tried to make coffee at home.
She recorded him doing the same thing two days later, without any involuntary movements.
“I can’t believe it’s me in the video,” Gass told the BBC.
“For the past three years I have suffered from uncontrollable tremors every day for two to three hours a day.
“It’s still early days, but I’m now shaking for five to 10 minutes a day.”
Image source, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
He added: “This was amazing and life-changing. As soon as I had my first treatment, I could make a cup of coffee so much easier.”
“Now I can go to the supermarket without eggs all over the aisles.
“I can go to the pub without people thinking I’m just drunk.
“We can start thinking about going back to normal life.”
How does Produodopa work?
Produodopa is a combination of two drugs, foslevodopa and foscarbidopa.
The drug works by converting foslevodopa into the chemical dopamine, which helps transmit messages between parts of the brain and nerves that control movement.
This helps manage Parkinson’s symptoms such as excessive movements and tremors.
The infusion enters the patient’s bloodstream through a cannula under the skin and is controlled by a small, automated pump that delivers a constant supply of medication around the clock to control symptoms.
There’s also the option to boost manually if needed.
Gass said his condition has worsened and he is taking four different oral medications six times a day to control symptoms, including persistent muscle pain.
He said he was in so much pain at night that it kept him from sleeping and his condition fluctuated widely as the effects of oral medication wore off overnight.
He said the pump now delivers a steady stream of medication around the clock.
“The big difference is that now there’s no fluctuation,” he said.
A new era of treatment
Mrs Gass said: “We have always tried to carry on normal daily activities, like eating out.
“But sometimes it was hard to deal with the lack of understanding from those around me, which made me feel very protective of Damien.
“Now we’re having fun just like any other couple.”
Gus, from Derby, has been receiving treatment at Sherwood Forest Hospital (SFH) NHS Foundation Trust in Nottinghamshire since 2016.
Dr Nishantha Silva, the trust’s geriatric consultant and service lead for Parkinson’s disease, said: “We are proud to be the first trust in the East Midlands to offer this service and aim to build on this success by expanding access to Produodopa.”
“The successful introduction of Produodopa at SFH heralds a new era in the management of advanced Parkinson’s disease.”
