At 12:53 PM 4/9/00 -0400, you wrote:
>Lanier, My mother Joyce (70, PD Plus) takes Artane (along with Sinemet,
>Requip, and Zoloft). Don't know the dosage. When she first started, it
>seemed to HELP with her balance. These days she has NO balance.
>
>She sees a movement disorder specialist who would like to see her come off
>the Artane -- according to him, in older PD patients (don't know whether 64
>would fall into that category), Artane is not recommended because it can
>cause confusion, etc. My mother has tried to come off the Artane but feels
>worse. Good luck.
>
>Debbie White
>
>[log in to unmask]
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of plmaddux
>> Sent: Sunday, April 09, 2000 9:14 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: PD Med's Question
>>
>>
>> Hi Folks,
>> After having a tremor for 4 1/2 years I decided to try taking a med
>> prescribed by my doctor. He thought that Artane was the most
>> approiate drug
>> for my symptoms, that being a left side tremor. I had been taking Benadryl
>> which was giving me some relief but it was not helping much and I was
>> beginning to have a headache all the time.
>>
>> So I started taking Artane as prescribed, 2mg a day for a week, then 3mg ,
>> then 5mg then 6, then 8mg per day. each dose continued for a
>> week. Now I am
>> sleeping well and don't have a headache anymore and feel pretty
>> good. But at
>> this level (8mg's per day), I am beginning to feel light-headed, or dizzy,
>> and I feel that I am about to lose my balance from time to time.
>> And this is
>> scaring me. I don't want to start falling down.
>>
>> And as far as reducing the tremor, I don't think it is any less
>> than before.
>> The drug at this level is very little or no help. He has me going on up to
>> 12mg's per day. But because of the dizziness etc, I am thinking about
>> leveling off or even reducing the dose back to say maybe 6mgs per
>> day to see
>> what happens. Do I really need to go all the way up to 12mg a day
>> to see if
>> I start getting some relief from the tremor. Should I nto be getting some
>> relief at 8mg's? I am now at the end of six weeks talking the Artane.
>>
>> I of course need to talk to my doctor and I called him a couple
>> of days ago
>> and have not received a return call yet. I will try again next week to get
>> him on the phone. In the meantime I would like for some input from anyone
>> who would give me their thoughts and suggestion on what to do. Any input
>> would be helpful.
>>
>> Lanier Maddux   64/4      Chattanooga Tn
>>
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>
>       Years ago, Gordon used Artane, but i think it went with something
else:they balanced each other. It is one of the olderPD drugs and we know
there are many out there. have you seen a Movement Disorder Specialist?This
List reaches so far, someone is sure to help you if you mention your location,
        Regards, Thea Lou Seese CG Gordon 72/22