>
> From:          Margaret Tuchman <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject:       Medical Emergencies & Sinemet Overdose



> Observations and Questions:
> 1/  It is nice to be able to eat protein during the day and it is wonderful not
> to
> have to take medication every two hours.
> 2/  I had NO dyskinesias, until 7 hours after taking the meds, when I had
> minor end-of-dose dk. just before I started to tremor and I knew I needed more
> Sinemet. How come?
> 3/  I felt good, I had energy  - I was high!  I was able to work, shop, garden.
> 4/ I am told that I was "not my usual self" (?) - my speech was slurred, I was
> slow in my thinking.  This is opposite to what I felt.  I suppose that the
> feeling
> of euphoria is quite common when taking cocaine, or other stimulants?
> 5/  if the half life of regular Sinemet is approx. 2 hours, how come I had a
> 7 hour free ride? Is the therapeutic effect cumulative?
> 6/  since 750 mg lasted 7 hours, does that mean that I really need 100 mg
> per hour and basically I am always under medicated?  Hello, Brian???
> 7/  what role does Tasmar play in this equation?  I've been taking 300mg
> per day and had cut my Sinemet from 1100 to 750.  But, the last week I
> was not holding  the "ON" for the two hours. I was given the advice that
> perhaps cutting the Tasmar in half would extend the ON.  I really had no
> chance to give this alternative a proper trial yet.  Another complication
> has arisen, I am having
> the "Tasmar Runs" and from what I understand, once that side effect  happens,
> there are only two alternatives, cut back on the Tasmar or stop taking it.
> 8/  While I felt really fine the day of the OD, I was a rag the day after
> and even most of the day today.  I am tired and slow moving, though
> I get plenty of rest in the bathroom/WC/loo.
>
 Hi Margaret
 I am glad you had a good time on " overdose " . I have to take
enough L-dopa everyday to get above dyskinesia level . I dont believe
dyskinesia is too much dopamine but rather a certain level between  PD
symptoms and non PD symptoms ( for me ) . I get dyskinesia 45 mins
after first morning pill  and 3-4 hours after last evening pill .
Sometimes during the day my dyskinesia comes back and I immediately
have to take two pills to get out of this hole,which I boost out of
in 45 mins and I dont have to take another pill for 3 hours instead of
the usual 2 . The only ill effects from dopamine overdose is
dizzyness  . Smoking your first cigarette produces a dopamine overdose
.
I have explained in numerous postings why this is happening
according to my theory that PD is a neurone firing pattern spasm not
essentially a shortage of dopamine .
 In fact over the last few weeks reviewing the lack of improvement in
PD sufferers by cell transplants and the increasing success of
pallidotomy and DBS , I am beggining to wonder if the lack of
dopamine is the effect of the neurone firing pattern spasm rather
than the cause . In other words does the change in brain activity
mean less dopamine is required and there fore the dopamine producing
cells die off .
 What about the beneficial effect of boosting the dopamine level with
L-dopa ? My experience with L-dopa is as follows . I took it for nine
months with no effect ( my doctor and neuro disbelieved this ) . I
could take 3 pills at once ( madopar 125 ) with NO effect . IT was
only after a sustained 12 pills a day for a week that I started to
react to both positive eefects and dyskinesia . This beneficial
effect of L-dopa is the result of it changing your brain chemistry (
I believe ). Included in this is dopamine boosting . Dr. Sachs book
" The Awackenings " describes many cases that parallel my own in
needing a high dosage of L-dopa to kick in the beneficial effects .
   Maybe as a result of your experience you will join the
sceptics/heretics on this list .
  My own position is that I have a duty to be sceptical of all
theories ( including my  own ) until the theory leads to a cure .
     peace
          Alastair     ( [log in to unmask] )