Teva Neuroscience Sponsors Book That Celebrates Daily Victories Over Parkinson's
NEW YORK, April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Most people view an illness as a handicap. A number of people with Parkinson's disease (PD), an age-related degenerative disorder of the brain which normally affects people over the age of 60, have each penned their own inspirational story compiled in a new book titled "Proud Hands." "Proud Hands" celebrates the daily victories of 28 people from across the country who are affected by PD, and depicts the various activities some use to live well despite their illness. The book is a combination of personal photos and stories submitted by both patients and caregivers to provide encouragement to the more than 1 million people in the U.S. who are affected by PD.
"Proud Hands" features a celebrity foreword by Holly Robinson Peete, actress and Parkinson's advocate. Peete has a passion to help improve the quality of life for people who are affected by PD. She has dedicated herself to helping others live well with the disease, not just financially, but physically and emotionally, too. Peete and her husband Rodney founded the HollyRod Foundation in 1997 in honor of Peete's dad, Matt Robinson, who battled PD for many years.
Holly Robinson Peete will be on site to launch "Proud Hands" at the annual Parkinson's Unity Walk Saturday, April 26, 2008, at Central Park in New York City. In addition, several storytellers from "Proud Hands," and representatives from Teva Neuroscience and the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) will be there to talk about the importance of learning to live well with PD. Participants attending the Unity Walk will be able to reserve a copy of "Proud Hands" at the Teva Neuroscience booth.
"It's efforts such as this one made by Teva Neuroscience that allows my organization, HollyRod Foundation, to continue serving the PD community throughout the United States," said Holly Robinson Peete. "The 'Proud Hands' book is a great way to create awareness about a disease that affects the lives of so many people and, at the same time, give hope to those who have the disease." "Proud Hands" is sponsored by Teva Neuroscience, marketer of the Parkinson's drug AZILECT(R) (rasagiline tablets). The book will be available through the APDA for a $15 donation, which will go to assist the organization in its research, support, and education initiatives. More information on the book is available online at http://www.proudhandsbook.com/.
"It is important to let the community know that Parkinson's disease does not have to be the entire story of a person's life. The 'Proud Hands' book is a way for those affected by the disease to share this message with the world. We're honored that these courageous and inspirational people have allowed us to help spread their story that they might serve as an example to others," said Mike Sheehy, product manager for Teva Neuroscience.
The photos and stories in "Proud Hands" range both in style and content, demonstrating the full lives that people with PD can lead. Participants also vary in age and background, including those who have young-onset PD. Some examples are: -- Yoga instructor Paul Zeiger, who has created a special yoga program for
people with PD to improve flexibility, strength and balance. -- Elena Tuero, a mother of three, who began her career as an artist 17
years after her diagnosis at age 27, and donates many of her paintings
to help raise funds for Parkinson's research. -- Bill Hillman, a retired coach who created and launched exercise videos
to help alleviate the symptoms of PD on You Tube
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW5fNun0mUc)
For more information visit http://www.proudhandsbook.com/.
About AZILECT(R)
AZILECT(R) (rasagiline tablets) is indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease both as initial therapy alone and to be added to levodopa later in the disease. The effectiveness of AZILECT was shown in patients with early PD who were receiving AZILECT as initial therapy alone and who were not receiving any other PD therapy. The effectiveness of AZILECT as adjunct therapy was shown in patients with PD who were treated with levodopa.
Important Safety Information:
-- Patients should not take AZILECT if they are currently taking
meperidine as it could possibly result in a serious reaction such as
coma or death. -- Patients should not take AZILECT with tramadol, methadone,
propoxyphene, dextromethorphan, St. John's wort, mirtazapine, or
cyclobenzaprine. -- Patients should not take AZILECT with other monoamine oxidase
inhibitors (MAOIs), amphetamines, cold remedies containing
decongestants and weight-reducing preparations containing
pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, or ephedrine in
order to avoid a possibly dangerous increase in blood pressure. Symptoms of this reaction include severe headache, blurred vision,
difficulty thinking, seizures, chest pain, unexplained nausea or
vomiting, or signs or symptoms of a stroke. Patients or caregivers
should seek immediate medical attention if these symptoms or other
unusual symptoms occur. -- In order to prevent a possibly dangerous increase in blood pressure,
patients taking AZILECT should avoid foods and beverages high in
tyramine content such as aged cheeses, air-dried meats, pickled
herring, yeast extract, aged red wines, tap/draft beers, sauerkraut,
and soy sauce. -- Patients taking AZILECT(R) (rasagiline tablets) should not have
elective surgery requiring general anesthesia, and should not receive
cocaine or other local anesthesia that contains ingredients that could
raise blood pressure. -- Patients should inform their physician if they are taking, or planning
to take, any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, especially
antidepressants and ciprofloxacin. -- Patients with moderate to severe liver disease or a tumor of the
adrenal gland should not take AZILECT. -- All PD patients are advised to monitor for melanoma (skin cancer)
frequently and see a dermatologist on a regular basis. Side effects seen with AZILECT alone are headache, joint pain and indigestion; and when taken with levodopa are uncontrolled movements (dyskinesias), accidental injury, nausea, weight loss, constipation, low blood pressure when standing, joint pain, vomiting, dry mouth, rash, and sleepiness. Patients should tell their doctor about these and any other side effects they experience when taking AZILECT.
About Parkinson's Disease Parkinson's disease is an age-related degenerative disorder of the brain. Symptoms can include tremor, stiffness, slowness of movement, and impaired balance. An estimated 1 million Americans have the disease, which usually affects people over the age of 60.
About Teva Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NASDAQ:TEVA), headquartered in Israel, is among the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world. The company develops, manufactures, and markets innovative and generic human pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Over 80 percent of Teva's sales are in North America and Europe. Teva's innovative R&D focuses on developing novel drugs for diseases of the central nervous system.
Teva's U.S. innovative product marketing subsidiary, Teva Neuroscience, Inc., promotes AZILECT in the United States. AZILECT is a registered trademark of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Please visit http://www.azilect.com/ for additional important information.
Please see enclosed additional important information.
08289202/080199 DATASOURCE: Teva Neuroscience, Inc.
CONTACT: Justin Emily Wills, +1-816-512-2387, , or Carlos Casas, +1-816-512-2344, , both of Fleishman-Hillard, for Teva Neuroscience Web site: http://www.proudhandsbook.com/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW5fNun0mUc http://www.azilect.com/
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