Hi Norm, I went through Requip/Permax/Bromocriptine/???? this past
year. I forget the exact order but in all cases found the side effects
too much. But every time I stopped, I noticed that my mobility did not
seem to return to what it had been even a month or two earlier.
I cannot say for sure what caused this or even if it is just an
impression. I do know that my walking is a lot worse than some 10
months ago.
I'm back on L-dopa, with Artane and Amantadine to extend the duration
> Norm Leonard wrote:
>
> I'm here to ask the expertise of this learned on-line community.
>
> My dear mother is a regular "visitor" here for some three years,
> diagnosed with PD approx. five years ago. The onset of what I now
> understand is classic PD showed up as a slight tremor in her right
> hand, and was first noted in her writing (as a teacher). By the
> time of her diagnosis, it had progressed to the obvious tremor and
> "cogwheel" effect on the right arm and the associated back pain.
>
> A short run with Artane proved too much and she stopped after five
> days, chosing to deal with the tremor instead. She elected to stay
> away from the meds until last year (by now PD was affecting the right
> side, walking balance, and chin/tongue) and started on Requip.
>
> Even at near maximum level, no appreciable reduction in arm tremor was
> acheived (though chin and balance had improved somewhat...), and she
> was switched to Mirapex (weaned off the old and onto the new, per her
> PD specialist).
>
> Following her last consult with her Winnipeg PD doc and loss of
> effectiveness of the Mirapex, as of two weeks ago she's made the
> transition (possibly too fast?) to Pergolide. This new med (Permax)
> has
> been the worst so far. At the doctors recommended dosage, it's
> completely knocked her off her game. Listlessness, back pain,
> weakness in her legs... I'm worried enough now about the effect on
> her morale: If she's unable to sleep and "recharge" from the effort
> of the tremor, there's no telling where we'll be in a week.
>
> My question(s): Does anyone recognize this progression in use of
> the PD meds or does this approach sound at all unusual? Is Permax
> typically slow to "kick in" and and start seeing results with?
> Finally, I have seen much reference to the application of Sinemet
> either early/late in treatment of PD or in combination with other
> meds. Is their a reason they'd commonly hold this med in "reserve"
> in a case like this?
>
> Your thoughts and input would be much appreciated. My apologies
> for running so long with this, and thanks very much in advance.
>
> Norm Leonard
> Kenora, ONT. [log in to unmask]
>
>
--
Frans van Duinen
(416) 652-8580
Toronto, Ontario
