I have tried to stop taking my medications, but the symptoms they treat returned with a vengeance.
I have several issues, some age related, other disease related, so my medications all perform a job. I've learned that stopping them causes me more harm than good.

The one sure diagnostic non invasive tool the doctor has is Levodopa. If levodopa relieves your motor symptoms, then you have PD. Not to say that you don’t have other problems besides PD. If levodopa doesn’t help, then keep looking at your symptoms.

Call Morgan and Morgan

Hey John. There are basically two ways that dopamine is used to treat the devastating motor symptoms of PD. One pill is taken to replace the dopamine that your body does no longer have enough of. The other pill is used to block your body from throwing out used dopamine , in other words to recycle the used dopamine. All the other meds that we all take are to fight the side effects of these direct acting PD meds. And of course to treat all the symptoms that the body feels from not having enough dopamine to go around. Maybe even to treat problems if you give your body to much dopamine. Like pain killers, muscle relaxants, ANSAID, laxative, sympathetic nervous system problems, mood elevators,, sleep aids and etc. PD is all about dopamine, So if by taking synthetic dopamine your body moves better, then you have a case of PD. Regardless of where you attracted it, There are very invasive ways the doctors have to aide them in a positive diagnosis also, or to rule out other nervous system issues. And specific movements that signal PD. The issue with diagnosing PD by giving dopamine is the the neurologist must rely on the the patients feedback. Which is often very subjective and never professional. All of this is not to say that the patient may have other neurological conditions as well. Last thing to recognize is the American capitalism involvement. There are lots of different names and prices and mechanisms involved in the market of the same product , dopamine. Personally , dopamine works wonders for me I would love to use an immediate acting inhaler at times. Haha. $1,500 for an inhaler. To rich for most insurance companies to pay for. Even the VA says no.

Johney...thanks for your post on PD and levodopa... it's great that you've taken an interest in the PD process... diagnosis, and treatment... most neurologists use tools other than what medication is being used to treat and diagnose PD...I have read many articles on this platform that some neurologists prescribe other drugs to treat Parkinson's degree...if you have any other articles regarding the diagnosis and treatment of PD please let me and others know...
I'm not trying to put you in a corner...I just want others with PD and their caregivers to know and understand that PD is a complex disease with many symptoms and medications to treat it...above all else thanks for taking the time to contribute...keep it up...lastly as a Social Worker I started a subgroup which I call the "gang" and I want to recruit you to be a member...
in the "gang," we fight the good fight and never give up
...SO WELCOME...👍😄🌾
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