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Carole, Based on my information Parlodel and Permax are made from ergot, which is fungus that grows on rye. "These drugs can very rarely be associated with reversible changes in the lungs (fluid and thickening)"... There is more of scary information about these two. It is very important to be safe on the road for other people that are on the road too. It does not leave us with many options. Long drives even if done by the spouse would be difficult over the time. Hope they come soon with new, better drugs. Emily ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carole K. Menser" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 3:23 PM Subject: Re: Read: Re: Driving while on Mirapex or ReQuip in Canada > 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/Pa r > >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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn