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thanks for the info, Linda. I heard too that he was not responding so well. I remember another case some years ago who a guy suddenly came out of a coma and talked, then slipped back into it. I think he died and was also a firefighter or police officer. Ray ----- Original Message ----- From: "Linda J Herman" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2005 7:30 AM Subject: Re: Herbert's Doctor In Demand > Ray, > There was an article about Donald Herbert in today's Buffalo News. > Unfortunately it states that he has become "less active again" > > Regarding the medications used it reports: > > "On Herbert, Ahmed first tried Aricept, an Alzheimer's disease therapy > that increases the amount of a brain neurotransmitter, in combination > with Provigil, a drug for sleepiness that stimulates the central nervous > system, and Sinemet, a Parkinson's disease medication that replenishes > dopamine, another critical chemical messenger in the brain. > > When that drug cocktail failed to work, Ahmed said he tried a new > combination that may have included at least one of the original > medications. While declining to be specific about the drugs he used, > Ahmed said that one is commonly prescribed for attention deficit > hyperactivity disorder, another to treat Parkinson's and a third to treat > depression. " > > ....so it sounds like the PD drug was Sinemet. > > It also discusses current studies on severe brain injuries. Amantadine is > also used in treating PD: > > "Few studies have been conducted on treatments for the severely > brain-injured because of the expense and ethical dilemma of testing > medications on patients who do not have the capacity to consent, said Dr. > Joseph T. Giacino, a neuropsychologist at the JFK Johnson Rehabilitation > Institute in Edison, N.J. > > However, Giacino is now directing an international clinical study funded > by a $3 million grant from the National Institute on Disability and > Rehabilitation Research to test the effectiveness of a drug called > amantadine hydrochloride. > > The medication, introduced in the 1960s as an antiviral agent, has been > shown to enhance the transmission of nerve impulses in the brain. > > Researchers also are looking at the possible benefit of pacemaker-like > electric stimulators implanted in the brain, a therapy now used in some > Parkinson's patients..." > > The full article is online at: > http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050508/1021119.asp > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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