----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2000 10:22
AM
Subject: Daytime use of Sinemet CR:
why?
A quick question regarding
my mother's recent visit to her (non-moverment disorder)
neurologist...
(She is 78, was dx in 91...hovering
between Stage 2 and 3...)
Recently at her last
3 month visit, she complained that her off times were getting
longer...and wondered if there was anything that could be done regarding a
meds change. She takes Sinemet 100/25 4 times a day
and also Sinemet CR 100/25 at bedtime, along with Requip 3 times during the
day.
Her Doctor's response was
to change the daytime Sinemet from regular Sinemet to Sinemet CR 100/25 and to
take it with the same frequency (same number of pills as the Sinemet Regular
regime). She did so for 2 days and at the end of the second day, began
to feel SO dizzy and nauseous, with difficulty maintaining balance when
walking (said she felt like she was floating), and felt so disoriented that
she has decided to go back to her old regime of daytime regular Sinemet
and sufffer the longer off periods.
She will call her
neurologist to tell him this and to get the regular Sinemet prescription
refilled since she doesn't know what else to do.
My question is this...why would one prescribe/take Sinemet
CR during the day time, if there is a better option (a better regime to follow
or a different agonist to investigate)? ...especially if one is trying
to make Sinemet's effectiveness last a lifetime of pd.
Hope I haven't asked the obvious.
Joan U.