Hello,
I have been using Cabaser ( Cabergoline ) as an agonist for several
years now, with no associated drowsiness, I am not aware of any driving
restrictions linked to Cabaser here in the UK, my doctor, car insurance
company and the National Vehicle Licensing Authority are all aware of my
medication regime and have raised no objections..
Nigel.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Emily and Julian Brinac" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 7:49 PM
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
>
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