it is amazing that we have never met before. With some very slight variation,
you are describing my drug history, i have been taking sinemet for 17 years. i
am extremely sensitive to it - i take the 25/100CR which i break in half - one
half every 2 hours or so - usually closer to 90 minutes. but, as you describe,
sometimes for no apparent reason, that is too much, other times not enuff.
Yesterday the whole day i struggeld to try and get moving, but my medication
just wouldnt kick in. finally at about 11pm i couldnt stand the heaviness and
the lethargy any more - besides, i had to start packing to go to the forum -
and i became so dyskinetic, i could hardly think straight. Didnt get to sleep
til 3.30 and since i took my first dose at 7.30 and another at 10.30., the
dyskinesia  has been getting wilder and wailder,

I also take comtan and requip. at first the comtan seemed like an answer to a
prayer - i cut downm my need for sinemet to about a third, but the need has
been gradually creeping up again resulting in days like yesterday and today. i
was taking anmantadine til about 4 monnths ago, but my legs swelled up so
badly, i had to stop. WIth amantadine however, i was doing fine - very little
dyskinesia, no dystonia, and almmost no tachykinesia - all three are now big
problems .

have you considered surgery?

hilary blue
51,33,24


> Hi,
> I can't really remember how much sinemet I started on 16 years ago (
> not 17) but the dosage has gradually increased over the years.  I'm
> now taking 1200-1600 mg of sinemet a day.  The dosage varies because I
> try not to take anymore than I have to but that changes daily
> depending on my sleeping, eating, and other factors of daily life. I
> generally take one 25/100 about every 1 hour and 20 minutes.
> Occasionally, I take spells where I can go 1 1/2 hours and then again
> I may have to take them every hour.  I set a timer to help me remember
> because the time goes so quickly and if I miss a dose and go off, if
> takes a stronger dose and a lot longer to get back on.  I have taken
> as much as 2200 mg a day for several weeks at a time.  Then something,
> we have no idea what, changes and I can cut back again.
>
> In addition to the sinemet I take 3- 200 mg  tasmar and 4 -100 mg
> symmetrel.  I have tried all the agonists and cannot tolerate them.
> When taking them, even though I can cut back on the amount of sinemet
> the dyskinesias are unbearable.  I have also used apomorphine with
> limited success.  I also take 1-15 mg restoril and 1/2-25 mg clozaril
> to help me sleep.  They help, but I still don't sleep well.
>
> Dwayne  55/16
>