Your doctor is your partner in managing Parkinson's disease.
To strengthen your partnership, you can:

1. Prepare 2. Prioritize and 3. Communicate Clearly.

1. Prepare for your visit

Use the materials below to enhance the time you have with your doctor.

Symptom and side effect checklist – Allows you to compare your current symptoms and side effects with how you felt the last time you went to the doctor. You simply check off how you're currently doing. Use your answers to determine the biggest problems you are having. Click the link to download and print the checklist. In order to view the worksheets, you will need Adobe^® Reader^®. For a FREE download of Adobe^® Reader^®, click here.

Additional questions about your medications – Here, you can write down answers to questions doctors may ask about your medications. Click the link to download and print the personal medication information form. In order to view the worksheet, you will need Adobe^® Reader^®. For a FREE download of Adobe^® Reader^®, click here.

Prepare a list of questions, using the following Starting Point Questions:
• How am I doing compared to others living with Parkinson's disease?

• Are there exercises I can do to help manage the symptoms of Parkinson's disease? What about diet?

• Are there any new treatment options that might help? Is AZILECT^® right for me?

2. Prioritize your concerns
In other words, put your problems in the order of how important they are to you. That way, you will be able to get to the things that concern you the most. You set the agenda for your visit.

3. Communicate clearly
If you have prepared for your visit and made a list of questions and concerns, you should be ready to make the most of your time with the doctor!

Bring a family member, friend or caregiver to offer an objective viewpoint and help prioritize your problems. He or she can also provide emotional support and may even notice symptoms or side effects that you had overlooked.

Be ready to voice your needs. Be open and honest – your doctor needs complete information about symptoms, side effects, and how well you've been complying with prescribed treatment.

Take good notes. It's not easy to remember everything your doctor says. If you don't understand something, ask your doctor to explain it to you, and write it down.

If you would like to get information from a doctor online, the National Parkinson's Foundation offers an "Ask the Doctor" Forum.