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Hello, I'm trying to learn about agonists for my mother, Virginia. I'd appreciate any advice about whether any particular agonist might help her. In the last couple months, she's had more discomfort between doses. She is 81 years old, diagnosed with PD about 17 years ago. She also has peripheral neuropathy, and from this she has been been bedridden for two years. She doesn't see a neurologist regularly because getting anywhere is harrowing. We did have a phone consultation with a PD specialist last year, but the experience was not helpful. (And I got an impression that the neuro was not as knowledgeable as people on this list. I've subscribed here off and on for some time). For what it's worth, two years ago my mother had in-person evaluations and batteries of tests with another neurologist and other physicians with the outcome that she was overloaded with Sinemet to the point of being "out of it" and in great physical discomfort for several months. The neurologist in charge then had no clue. Relief came only after I posted information about her and asked some questions on this list, where people explained that she was probably getting too much Sinemet. Anyway, we reduced the Sinemet strength and reworked her schedule based on observation plus information from this list. Once the new Sinemet dosage and schedule was established, her comfort improved tremendously and her mind cleared. (She still has mild hallucinations but she knows are not real, but of course they are annoying. A low dose of Zyprexa at midnight has stopped nightmares, and adding a low dose during the day is under consideration to reduce day time hallucinations.) I would be grateful for any pointers and advice about the use of agonists. In the last couple months, she's been feeling more physical discomfort between doses. This includes painful muscle contractions, extreme slowness of movement, and high anxiety. (By the way, she does not have involuntary movements.) She says she is stiff, "but that doesn't bother me as much as the other stuff." She does not eat for 60 minutes before Sinemet and for 30 minutes after. Her schedule is: 7:00 AM One Sinemet CR 25/100 plus one-half Sinemet 25/100. 7:30 AM One Dilantin 100 mg. 10:00 AM One Sinemet CR 25/100. 1:00 PM One Sinemet CR 25/100. 4:00 PM One Sinemet CR 25/100 plus one-half Sinemet 25/100. 5:00 PM One Nortriptyline 10 mg (anti-depressant. Soon to go to 25 mg). 7:00 PM One Sinemet CR 25/100. 10:00 PM One Sinemet CR 25/100. 12:00 AM One Zyprexa 2.5 mg (prevents nightmares) 12:30 AM One Sinemet CR 25/100. Many thanks. Lynne ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn