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This is the brother to the PD patient speaking: I appreciate all the material I have been reading....a little knowledge makes a person "dangerous". But I am still searching for information...to become better informed. Thanks again. Again, my brother has PD in Dallas, Tex. I am in Georgia. I have developed some good ideas on what to do within the next several weeks, again, thanks to several comments sent to me. Thank you. But, I would like to re-visit the medications again. Brother: Developed PD symptoms some 8 years ago. Diagnosed PD about 5 years ago. Had the shuffle (fell many times before being diagnosed). Speech gradually decreased to none at all. Had the tremors begin gradually (8 years ago)....finally could not drink without spilling it....before he was put on medication. Had swallowing problems some 6 years ago.....could not seem to swallow and the food would accumulate in his mouth until he looked like he was "gorging" his food. He would cough violently at times after getting choked. Finally, recently, he got pneumonia (aspiration) and did a barium swallow and it was determined he was swallowing into his lungs...and could not detect it was going down the wrong way. Doctors put in a stomach tube for his feeding and medications. He can not walk without assistance. He uses the wheelchair to some degree. He can read some and comprehend...to some degree (I don't know how much), but from what I have seen he understands what one is saying. His vision needs to be checked (wears glasses) but cannot put them (glasses) on by himself. That is the picture of John. He takes 25/100 3 times a day of Simnemet. He takes Parlodel 5 mg 3 times a day (this was upgraded in December, 2001). I would guess he takes the parlodel, the Simnemet, and his blood pressure pills at the same time....he is in a nursing home. Question: From the symptoms as described above would it "appear" that the medications are sufficient? I have already had some good responses that gave me some insight into medications...I already know that medications are prescribed by the Doctor upon observation and treatment of the patient. I already know that taking PD medications is timely. I already know the patient reacts differently to different medications and different amounts. I have learned a lot from your comments. I wish I had been this informed some 8 years ago. But, in general, would it appear the medications John is receiving is adequate? To show you how much I knew (and ignorant) I was asking John's wife to take him off the medication entirely to see what would happen....(thinking it could not be worst than where he already is). My reasoning was that his mother had PD and his aunt and his grandmother. They never took medications for PD. But then, they never progressed to the degree he has progressed. (They were never medically diagnosed - they just said they had PD....and it appeared they did, however it did not disable them). Now, I am of the opinion he needs more medication, now less. Your opinion on the medications? Thank you, Larry ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn