>On Thu 19 Dec, Christine Anne Sutter wrote:
>> >Hi Folks,
>> >
>> >I'm brand new to this List, and have just received the Algorithm for
>> >Managing Parkinson's Disease and the Caregiver's Handbook, and have perused
>> >a few days' worth of email messages.  I'm a caregiver for my sweetie Mike,
>> >who is 56 and has had Parkinson's for 15 years.  (I'm sending this message
>> >for him and at his request.)
>> >
>> >He's been on Sinemet since the beginning, and is now on a pill schedule of
>> >Sinemet and Permax.  In May, his Parkinson's doc observed that his
>> >dyskinesias were getting rather severe, and suggested that the Sinemet was
>> >maybe now causing more trouble than it's benefit.  He recommended a gradual
>> >changeover to a schedule of Permax and Amantidine.  Mike is apprehensive
>> >about quitting the Sinemet, since he believes that it is what enables him
>> >to move, so he has not made the change.  The doctor renewed his
>> >recommendation in August.  He doesn't say much about what Mike might
>> >anticipate  experiencing on the new pill schedule, apart from acknowledging
>> >that he might be slower.  Does anybody out there have any real-life
>> >experience on Amantidine, or the combination of Permax and Amantidine?  It
>> >would be helpful to have more information on which Mike can  make his
>> >decision.
>> >
>> >Cheers,
>> >
>> >Mary
>> >
>> >Mary -  I was diagnosed with PD a year ago -
>> >
>> >Currently I am taking Eldepryl and Amantadine - both twice daily - compared
>> to other postings I have read - my symptoms are relatatively mild - the
>> Amantadine seems to do the trick - EXCEPT when I allow my life to become
>> cluttered with stress - then the hand tremors return.  I have learned within
>> the last few months that it does matter when you take your medicine.  For me
>> it is not the time of day that matters - it just must be the same time each
>> time each day.  But that is probably the case with most meds.
>>
>> Christine Anne Sutter
>> >[log in to unmask]
>> >Hilton Head Island, SC, USA
>>
>>
>Hello Mary and Mike.  I think Mike is absolutely correct in being very
>suspicious of Amantadine. I would not consider it as a substitute for
>Sinemet.  The message from  Christine above (and please don't take offence
>Christine)  is typical of the sort of answers that you may see in response
>to your request for help, and the reason why you should not take the advice
>is simply the fact that you have had PD for 15 years, and Christine has had
>it for 1 year. The difference is enormous. I don't know if you have seen the
>two charts which I published yesterday, but the explanation is there in the
>charts: With 1 year of PD symptoms, almost anything will alleviate the
>symptoms, because a little change is all that is needed.  If you come up with
>a PWP who has had PD for 15 or more years and is only taking Permax and
>Amantadine, then I might listen to him, but I doubt if you will find anyone.
>( I should say that I was diagnosed 17 years ago, with earliest symptoms
>going back 23 years)
>
>I use 2 books as reference works: The older one, by Dwight C.McGoon clearly
>has little time for Amantadine: A summary is :- It is really an anti-viral
>agent, was discovered by accident to have a mildly beneficial effect on PWPs
>and no-one knows how it works. My more modern book, an English publication
>called 'Parkinson's at your Fingertips', doesn't even mention the drug.
>Is the doctor who is suggesting this change a neurologist or an ordinary MD?
>
>I fully understand the situation in which you find yourself now; I also have
>trouble steering through the narrow gap between underdosed and overdosed (i.e.
>Switched off and Dyskinesias). Again, my Chart A explains why this happens.
>
>The best that I can offer is to suggest that you make use of my analysis
>program - it is what enables me to function reasonably, and aims to analyse
>your particular responses to the drugs which you take, and suggest the best
>schedule to suit you. You can read all about it without any pressure, by
>going to the URL given below (by kind permission of Ron Vetter, who made a
>space for me on his web site). This explains what you need to do , and how
>to do it. If you are interested, call me and we can 'talk' some more.
>  In the meanwhile, I recommend that you challenge your doctor's opinion. (I
>know that isn't easy, but you are entitled to ask for a second opinion, and
>you can be sure of getting some reliable names of specialists to try from the
>people on this list. ( I live in the UK so cannot help .)
>
>Best wishes to you,
>Regards,
>--
>Brian Collins  <[log in to unmask]>
>
>Brian -

No offense taken - after I sent the message I thought I probably should have
clarified my situation - symptom dating back at least 10 years - but not
diagnosed until a year ago.

CAS