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Yes, that is true. Frankly, I don't think any of the agonists are very trustworthy. Too many problems with them all. The National Parkinson's Foundation lists "fibrosis," the side effect/condition about you speak, as very rare. However, if you are one who has it, I would imagine it to be quite awful. Those are the choices in agonists, sadly. Every drug has side effects. It's enough to just about scare a person to death when reading the PDR or such material. Carole -----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 2:22 PM Subject: Re: Read: Re: Driving while on Mirapex or ReQuip in Canada >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 > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn