 |
 |
i just want to thank all of you for responding about the Sinemet questions - Michel - we haven't tried the liquid options yet, because the first dose in the morning is the one that must get him started - and we figured it was easier and faster for mom to just crush the 1/2 25-100 between two (2) spoons (then eat the crushed pieces with applesauce) than to try and figure out the liquid recipe at 5:45 each morning! maybe we're getting the Vitamin C just by eating some applesauce at the same time w/out realizing it! (should be so lucky...!) The main thing we learned is (as you've all stated) DON'T CRUSH CR! it loses all predictability and doesn't work - but the regular 25-100 can be a wonder - i'm not familiar with CR 25-100 and i'm surprised the doctor hasn't even brought it up - i could swear i even asked about it before - is it available here in the US? Especially since Daddy NEVER takes a whole CR 50-200 - always 1/2 or 1/4s - anyway.... Ivan stated: I take partial tablets of both Sinemet and Sinemet CR, to avoid dyskinesia caused by whole tablets of either medication being too strong. [SAME REASON WE DO] I also regularly (on my tongue) crush only the regular Sinemet, not the CR. [ SAME HERE - LEARNING THE HARD WAY] With both of these, I stick to 3 hour intervals. [DITTO] I limit myself carefully to well-cut half-tablets (50 mg) of 100 mg Tasmar, at 4 to 5 hour intervals, again to avoid dyskinesia that a whole Tasmar causes. With all these partial-pill doses, lately I am getting 8 TO 10 HOURS of on-time with very little off-time. I have never done so well before! I also will add 1/4 of a tablet of Sinemet 25/100 to boost myself , when I need more l-dopa, such as when I have leg cramps in the late afternoon.. [YOU'LL NOTE WE'VE TRIED THE SAME WITH SUCCESS AS STATED BELOW...] Two questions: 1) Have you tried cutting the Tasmar tablets at all? [NO, BUT IT'S A GOOD IDEA - WE'RE AT 2/DAY (100MG) 4 OR 5 HOURS APART] 2) Do you give your dad any medications at all after 5 PM? [NO] I have doses at 9:15 PM, at 12:15 AM(after midnight), and at 3:45 AM. [OF WHAT - TASMAR OR SINEMET?] Looking at his schedule, I am wondering how he feels after his 5 PM.dose has worn off. [BELIEVE IT OR NOT - HE DOES PRETTY WELL FOR THE MOST PART - HE MAY BE SLOWER UNTIL AFTER 6p, BUT THEN HE'S OKAY - AND BEDTIME VARIES... How does he get through the night? [HE'S HOOKED UP WITH MENTOR 8200(!) SO HE DOESN'T HAVE TO GET UP AND DOWN AND HE SLEEPS WELL] I avoid breaking CR at night,.so that at least in theory, I can get a slow release of l-dopa over a longer period of time, to enable me to sleep more comfortably. [IT'S THAT "IN THEORY" PART THAT'S TOUGH - WE'RE JUST MORE CONCERNED WITH HIS 6a AND 9a DOSES KICKING IN - GETTING UP AND ACTIVE AROUND 8:30 IS DESIRABLE AND WHAT WE SHOOT FOR...] Anyway, again - thanks to all of you! Cari daughter of Dempsey-PWP (71/16+) & Jo Ann-CGiver