Nick, This is aVery common problem that PWP's experience. It is partly brought on by some of the meds and also due to the fact that with PD, everything seems to slow down including the intestines. Search of NPF site for constipation came up with 55 items to look at: Search Results Keywords (all terms, case insensitive): constipation (1,065 files searched; 55 matches found) Matches 1 - 10 Constipation Keyword Matches: 15; Size: 8 kb; Last Updated: 23 Mar 2001 ~||{ National Parkinson Foundation }||~ NPF ~||{ A World Wide Organization }||~ We thought you might be interested in the following from Dr. Lieberman's book "Shaking Up Parkinson". The article was excerpted from an article by PATIENT PERSPECTIVES ON PARKINSON'S Keyword Matches: 13; Size: 6 kb; Last Updated: 14 Feb 2000 19. CONSTIPATION AND PARKINSON'S It is ironic that Sid was preparing to write this essay on constipation, not knowing that it was going to be the cause of his death. The reason we had chosen this topic as the next in our series of essays was that we Parkinson's Disease: Nutrition Matters Keyword Matches: 11; Size: 3 kb; Last Updated: 14 Feb 2000 CHAPTER 3Constipation Why does constipation occur so frequently with Parkinson's? Constipation is defined as having fewer than three bowel movements per week. There appear to be two main reasons for the frequency of constipation in PD: Medications us Parkinson's Disease: Nutrition Matters Keyword Matches: 4; Size: 3 kb; Last Updated: 14 Feb 2000 Why can't I just use laxatives? Many people prefer laxatives, which are powerful, but work in a different way. Laxatives stimulate the nerve endings of the colon, causing rapid removal of bowel contents. Over time, stimulant laxatives damage the lini Parkinson's Disease: What You Should Know Keyword Matches: 4; Size: 4 kb; Last Updated: 14 Feb 2000 graphicPREVENTING CONSTIPATION Parkinson's disease often slows food processing throughout the gastrointestinal tract, from chewing and swallowing to gastric emptying to elimination. In addition, medications used to treat PD can slow peristalsis, the Parkinson's Disease: Medications Keyword Matches: 4; Size: 4 kb; Last Updated: 14 Feb 2000 CONSTIPATION Constipation is reported by a majority of individuals with Parkinson's disease. This is likely due to degeneration in the nerves of the colon, which results in slowed passage of stool through the large bowel. Dystonias (involuntary muscl Frequency of Bowel Movements Keyword Matches: 3; Size: 7 kb; Last Updated: 21 Aug 2001 ~||{ National Parkinson Foundation }||~ NPF ~||{ A World Wide Organization }||~ The following article appeared in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The article was picked up by the national news medi Encarta Encyclopedia August 1999 Keyword Matches: 2; Size: 55 kb; Last Updated: 10 Aug 2000 ~||{ National Parkinson Foundation }||~ NPF ~||{ A World Wide Organization }||~ Encarta Encyclopedia August 1999 PARKINSON DISEASE INTRODUCTION Parkinson disease (PD) is a slowly progressive disease of the nervous system. Ther Nutrition Swallowing in Parkinson's Disease Keyword Matches: 2; Size: 9 kb; Last Updated: 10 Aug 2000 ~||{ National Parkinson Foundation }||~ NPF ~||{ A World Wide Organization }||~ Nutrition and Swallowing In Parkinson's Disease Janet Schwantz, M.S., CCC/SP Neurology Research & Education Center, Lubbock, Texas A National Parkinson's Disease: Medications Keyword Matches: 2; Size: 9 kb; Last Updated: 30 May 2000 Contents Chapter 1. Introduction to Pharmacotherapy for Parkinson's Disease Symptoms Dopaminergic Drugs Chapter 2. Levodopa - Still the Gold Standard Carbidopa/Levodopa (SINEMET®) Carbidopa (LODOSYN®) Optimal Treatment With Carbidopa/Levodopa (SINEME Would suggest that you go to http://www.parkinson.org/search.htm and take a look - just type in "constipation" and the rest will come up. Good Luck, Rob ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nick Drozdowski" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2001 1:04 AM Subject: Constipation > My wife has been taking the same meds and amounts for the last 4 years: 1/day > amantadine, 2/day eldepryl, and 3-4/day mirapex (.25mg). She was taking 2 > amantadine/day about 6 months ago, but reduced it to one > > The last 6-8 months, she has had bad constipation, even though she eats lots of > veggies and fruits. Anyone have a solution? > > Nick > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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