Marjorie:

Due to the AIDS epidemic, the FDA instituted a policy of allowing
importation of prescription drugs from overseas.  This policy was introduced
in 1988 in a memo from a Director of FDA entitled "Pilot Guidance for
Release of Mail Importations".  Basically, any US citizen can order "banned"
drugs from overseas if the order meets four criteria:

        1.  It is for personal use.
        2   It will not be commercially distributed and the amount
                is not excessive (e.g., no more than 3 mos worth)
        3.  The intended use of the product is appropriately identified
        4.  Patient must provide name of physician supervising use
                of product.

I found a copy of this directive in Appendix G of the book "Smart Drugs &
Nutrients" by Ward Dean M.D. and John Morgenthaler (Health Freedom
Publications).  I have heard of people using this mechanism quite
successfully. A major proponent of this procedure is a group called CERI
(Cognitive Enhancement Research Institute) who advocate unrestricted use of
"Smart" drugs like deprenyl for the fun of it.

                                Ron Reiner (50/2)

At 06:48 PM 1/1/98 +0000, you wrote:
>On Thu 01 Jan, Marjorie Moorefield wrote:
>> I have recently been suffering with what turns
>> out to be an adverse reaction to the Carbodopa
>> part of the Sinemet, and my ND changed me over to Larodopa.
>>
>> I'm on a forced drug holiday, since none of the pharmacies
>> stock Larodopa anymore, but it is possible for them
>> to order it. However, I won't be able to get it before Friday
>> after work.
>>
>> I'm not going to say a drug holiday is bad for everyone,
>>  but I will say from personal experience, that for me
>> at least, its a torture which I really don't need at this
>> time!!
>>
>> Larodopa is Levodopa with out the Carbodopa, it was used
>> widely in the 70's and it will cross the blood/brain barrier alone,
>> but it will require twice the dosage of what I had to take of the
>> Sinemet.
>>
>> Maybe one of the reasons Brian Collins is lucky enough to not
>> have had problems is that he is fortunate enough to have a product
>> which doesn't contain Carbodopa. Unfortunately it isn't available
>> in the U.S.  How I wish it were!!!
>>
>> Now, my question is, since I can't take anything to counteract
>> the nausea, because it would bind with the levodopa and stop
>> it from working effectively, and since Levodopa taken alone, and in the
>> quantities
>> I will have to take,  will cause nausea, can anyone who has taken
>> it give me any suggestions?  My ND said to take it WITH meals.
>>
>> BTW, I can't take a PD agnoist because of other health problems,
>> so I'm not able to even try Mirapex or Requip.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Marjorie Moorefield,
>> just another librarian
>> with PD  65/9
>>
>>
>>
>Hello Marjorie,  I am sorry to read of your problems- the meds really do
>seem to be ganging up against you.  The last thing I want to do is cause
>you excessive worry, but from what I can find out about using levodopa
>on its own it should be considered as a last possible option (Page 43 of
>McGoon's "The Parkinson's Handbook" has a good summary.
>  I am not familiar with US law, but I was wondering if there might be a
>way of arranging for someone to mail you the necessary Madopar tablets
>from (for instance) Canada?
>  I have spoken out before about the stress and harm resulting from a
>drug company deciding not to clear their new drug in a particular country.
>Accepting that these anomalies will happen, there ought to be a procedure
>available for special cases like yours, to allow the import in small
>experimental quantities.
>  Now that might be a possibility: Could your Neurologist declare you a
>one-person experiment, and send off for Madopar as part of the experiment?
>I am not being silly - I think it is a real possibility, and fully
>justifiable in the light of your unusual allergy.
>
>  By the way, I have at various times used Sinemet and Madopar together
>and separately, and have found them completely interchangeable in my case.
>However, without having any formal evidence to go on, I do get the
>impression that Madopar users appear to have fewer adverse reactions
>than Sinemet Users.
>  The chemical which we are talking about is of course Benserazide. I
>have no idea how it is mixed with the levodopa, but I wondered if perhaps
>Benserazide alone is available in the USA for some totally different reason.
>After all, if Cabergoline can be unappproved for PD, and yet freely available
>for drying-up the milk of lactating women, anything is possible!
>Good luck with your problem.
>
>Regards,
>--
>Brian Collins  <[log in to unmask]>
>
>