Joan, Charley ... et al.

Just an update to you all.  It seems like Joan is experiencing what I
expected from Symmetrel. Nothing!  While I'm buzzin' on it.  I guess that
goes to show what an individualising disease this is.  Full of surprises!

I took 100 mgs at bedtime (as directed by the neuro) for a week - had
significant response in 3 days.  Increased by 100 mgs in the morning last
Thursday, felt 'off' for 2+ days - balance, coordination - dry,
sour-tasting mouth - like I was really 'losing it'. Then yesterday it all
came good. Today I feel more like my old self than I have in years!  I've
been rushing across campus, striding up the stairs and generally feeling
energetic and alert.  This is probably a danger signal.  I don't want to
overdo it and fall in a heap.

Like Charley I felt 'wired' in the evening at first, with restless legs
eventually driving me to bed, but sleep problems have settled down, and I'm
not so painfully stiff as I was in bed, so finding it easier getting up
now. Generally feeling more 'fluid'. I now take 100 mg with water when I
first wake (5-6 am) on an empty stomach, go back to bed for a bit, then 100
mgs about 5 pm with a drink of soy milk - I don't mind a spurt of energy in
the early evening (the bedtime dose I think was a mistake).

It IS rather pleasant to watch the fingers of my left hand extending
themselves over their old territory on the keyboard - who cares if they're
slow - at least they remember where to go!

Thank you all for nursing me through this tiny drama.

Oh. and Charley, I think you are right about the Mac, but I keep putting it
off.  And I know I shouldn't.  It's a good habit to have tho', because so
easy to just run off a print (with appropriate editing!) to prime us for
each visit to the neuro.  Thanks for that encouragement.  Perhaps we need
to be reminded from time to time ... ?

Beth



>Joan Dykstra wrote about Amantadine/Symmetrel.
>
>My meds began with only Eldepryl, with Amantadine added soon after.  Later
>Parlodel was added.  More recently, Sinemet CR was added to my daily meds.
>
>My experience with Amantadine is that it has good affect on tremor.  For
>good affect on slow movement and walking problems, I had to go from
>Amantadine 100mg twice/day to three times/day. After about another year,
>Parlodel was added.
>
>(note- This was before I bought my Macintosh.  I wish that I had kept
>better records on the progress of my Parkinsons.  It's difficult sometimes
>to go back and construct a record of events.  I recommend to new PWP, use
>your Mac or PC to keep a record of your experiences and medications.)
>
>A problem that I had with taking Amantadine three/day is that it would get
>me feeling "wired" in the evening.  And when I did go to bed, I would
>frequently wake up 2-3 hours later and be unable to go back to sleep.
>
>Since I have been taking Sinemet 50/200 CR twice/day, I have reduced my
>Amantadine to twice/day.  I never take Amantadine later than my noon meal.
>I don't feel "wired" anymore and sleep much better.  However, right hand
>tremor has reappeared.  But I can deal with a small amount of tremor.  The
>only time that it becomes a problem is when I'm involved in a frustrating
>situation at work.  There seems to be a direct relationship between
>frustration and tremor.
>
>I take Sinemet with orange juice in the morning and 7-Up or water in the
>afternoon.  I always take Amantadine with a meal though, because it seems
>to irritate my stomach.  The primary reasons that I continue with
>Amantadine is 1) it seems to be very effective with my tremor, 2) lowers
>the amount of Sinemet that I need, and 3) it may be able to protect neurons
>in some patients (Scientific American Jan 1997). I get my meds through the
>HMO provided by my employer, so I assume the Amantadine is generic.
>
>I hope this helps anyone who is just starting or may be soon taking Amantadine.
>
>                               Charley Countryman  (46/6)   [log in to unmask]