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Based on my neurologist's advise (as a younger person with PD then), I stayed off Sinemet as long as possible. (Until I started to have PD difficulties which interfered significantly with home life and employment.) But an unfortunate fact about PD is that it progresses (at varying rates). There came a time when Selegiline and Amantadine were not enough. But I trade off the side affects against the greater benefits received from increased meds. (I suspect more negative side affects come from the Ropinirole than from the Sinemet CR.) I do not like the fact that Ropinirole stopped me from driving a car. But I liked it a lot less when (before Ropinirole) there was a time when I had difficulty walking around the block. I will deal with the side affects as they come up. But my most important concern is being able to effectively interact with my family now, rather than just sitting in a chair with a blank face. It is wise to do "reasonable" planning for the future. But people do not need to practice being miserable. Each new day seems to bring its own challenges and difficulties. If drugs for the wide variety of symptoms that come with PD will make your life today better, I recommend taking them. Charley 50, dx 1993 > Hello Rayilyn and list. I respect your efforts of not using Parkinson's > drugs. I have fought it for the first four years since diagnosis but have > recently succumb to one-half pill of Sinemet three times a day for about two > months now. I know some people will say that I am under Medicaidedbut I am > preferring that to the possibilities of Dyskinesia. It's my impression that > the medications in a lot of cases is causing the Dyskinesia. There hasn't > been any lessening of symptoms with the Sinemet therefore I am considering > discontinuance. I have read that it may even cause tremors. When I last > saw my neurologist I estimate there was any studies that have been done on > people not taking medication. His answer was "there is 2000 years of > history." That didn't answer my question. > It appears to be the trial and error game for the neurologists. With hope > they will get on with the research.Rayilyn, how long have you had PDand how > are you doing on no medications? Best wishes. > [log in to unmask] > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Rayilyn Brown" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2001 6:57 PM > Subject: Re: Efficacy of PD Meds > > > > Judith and Carole, I probably shouldn't be saying anything, but the > > conditions you describe are why I don't take PD meds. Life is awful with > > constant tremors, stiffness, bradykinesia and dystonia, fatigue and pain, > but > > exercise helps me the most. However, I hear countless people on meds > > describing the same things. I know PD meds are lifesavers to most PWP. > > > > I'm not happy with the neuros either, but they only have so many meds in > > their bag of tricks and it seems like everyone takes one to elliminate one > > thing and something else for side effects, and on and on. We need some > > decent, more effective meds.OK< I'll shut up. Rayilyn > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn