 [ Symptoms ] i am newly diagnosed with parkinson is disease what general information can you provide about living with this disease [ Disease ] pd is a 20 year illness it does not progress rapidly in the next 4 6 weeks you should notice a benefit from your medications and i hope you have been started on levodopa increasing to 300 mg per day sinemetstalevo pramipexole increasing to 3 mg per day mirapex or ropinirole increasing to 8 12 mg per day requip you will need to reach these doses to see a benefit if you do not please revisit the diagnosis with your neurologist if you have a clear improvement i would be satisfied with the diagnosis here are my average patient timelines years 0 5 you will do well no matter what medications you are taking years 6 10 you will do well but it will require good communication with your doctors   to insure good medication adjustment after 10 years treatment responses and other health issues make predictions too difficult but most people are still doing fine some general tips be positive exercise more drink more water plan for the worst hope for the best   especially when thinking about work if you have an opportunity to buy a disability policy do so in my practice i define disability as 12 hours or work to complete the usual tasks of an 8 hour day  on average that does not occur until after 12 years