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Permax and Parlodel are two others The agonists all seem to have many adverse side effects. Ted fell asleep at the wheel while using Mirapex. Fortunately, I was in the car. That was the end of that. Started on Requip but drowsiness again a problem. Carole PWP Ted (54/46/40) age now/age diagnosed/age at onset of symptoms -----Original Message----- From: Emily and Julian Brinac <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 11:45 AM Subject: Re: Read: Re: Driving while on Mirapex or ReQuip in Canada >What other agonists are there that would not cause withdrawal of driving >privileges and would be helpfull for PD? >Emily, Ontario >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Gail Vass" <[log in to unmask]> >To: <[log in to unmask]> >Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 2:04 PM >Subject: Read: Re: Driving while on Mirapex or ReQuip in Canada > > >> Sleep attacks associated with Parkinson's drugs >> CBC CANADIAN NEWS WebPosted Tue Jan 22 16:17:48 2002 >> >> OTTAWA-- Health Canada has sent out warnings about two drugs used to >treat >> Parkinson's disease. They say the drugs can cause sudden sleep >attacks. >> >> Studies dating back to 1999 show links between pramipexole (Mirapex) >and ropinirole >> (ReQuip) and sleep attacks. >> >> A recent study by the University of Manitoba found 21 out of 420 >patients using the >> medications reported dozing off at the wheel. The study was supported >by Boehringer, >> the manufacturer of Mirapex. >> >> The study has been published in the most recent issue of the Journal >of the American >> Medical Association. >> >> As a result, Health Canada has directed the drugs' manufacturers, >Boehringer and >> GlaxoSmithKline, to send letters to physicians to warn patients "not >to drive or >> engage in other activities where impaired alertness could put >themselves and others >> at risk of serious injury or death." >> >> * The letter obliges physicians in most provinces to * inform the >motor vehicle >> authorities when they prescribe the drug to a patient. >> >> "This is a major problem, because these are the drugs we want to use >in patients >> while they're still young with Parkinson's disease," says Dr. Douglas >Hobson of the >> University of Manitoba. >> >> "These are patients are still functioning and. doing well working, and >if you >> suddenly tell them they can't drive, it's a huge issue for them." >> >> Provinces have different rules regarding medically unfit drivers. >> >> Outright ban on driving inappropriate >> >> Doctors have to tell departments of motor vehicles in Manitoba, New >Brunswick, >> Newfoundland andLabrador, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, >Prince Edward >> Island, Saskatchewan and Yukon, when they prescribe these drugs. >> >> Discretionary reporting is the rule in Quebec and Nova Scotia. >> >> In Alberta, it is at the discretion of the physician but mandatory for >the patient >> to report the change in their medical condition. >> >> For British Columbia, there's a blanket prohibition in the province >for people on >> these drugs to drive. >> >> In Manitoba and Ontario, transportation departments assess each case >individually >> before deciding whether to prohibit the person from driving. >> >> The study says doctors can assess if their patients are prone to sleep >attacks by >> using something called an "Epworth Score." >> >> "(It's) a standardized assessment of how sleepy a person would be," >says Hobson. >> "Patients can complete it in the waiting room and then bring it in for >the physician >> to reviews." >> >> Hobson says an outright ban on driving would be inappropriate. He says >doctors have >> enough information now to pick "who is safe to drive and who isn't." >> >> The Parkinson's Society is hoping to meet with Health Canada and >provincial motor >> vehicle departments to issue new recommendations regarding the drugs >and driving. >> >> The society says people are actually refusing to take the drugs they >need because >> they're reluctant to give up their driving privileges. >> >> Copyright © 2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - All Rights >Reserved >> >http://cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/print.cgi?/news/2002/01/22/Consumers/Par >kinsonsdrugs_020122 >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> 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