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----- Original Message ----- From: "Kelly G" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 7:07 PM Subject: Re: [Norton AntiSpam] Re: New subscriber-Hi > Pam, > Am hearing you say PD drugs may be causung my tremours? You may > be right as > everytime I was upgraded my shaking became worse. Something to > discuss wuth > doctor on the next visit. Doctor does not want to put me on > Senemet or > Parcopa full time. Wonder why? > Kelly G > First, you should distinguish between tremors and dyskinesias. You had tremors (a shaking of the limb) for years before you had any PD drugs. Dyskinesias are odd-looking jerking motions that occur when the level of the medication in the body is too high. Basically, when you take a dose, the level in the body starts at a low level, increases to a maximum, then drops off again. Then you take another dose. When the disease advances to a certain point, the ability of the body to use the meds is reduced, so the low levels at the beginning and end of the cycle are not enough to control the PD symptoms (known as "off" periods as opposed to "on" periods, also referred to as "motor fluctuations") and the higher levels in the middle of the cycle are too high and cause dyskinesias. Do you know whether you are having tremors or dyskinesias or both? Tremors are most likely at the beginning and end of the medication cycle, dyskinesias in the middle. There is disagreement among the experts as to whether Sinemet or equivalent should be taken in the early stages of the disease. There is some (less than conclusive) evidence that it takes longer to develop motor fluctuations if the patient is taking a dopamine agonist (Mirapex or Requip) rather than a form of levodopa, such as Sinemet or Paricopa. It is unclear whether this is due to a reduction in the death of dopaminergic neurons (a neuroprotective effect) or an artifact in the design of the studies. In any case, many doctors prefer to minimize or avoid levodopa in the early stages of PD. As for nausea, it is a well known side effect of dopamine agonists. You did not say which you were taking, but if your reduced dose is not enough, you could try switching to another one. Of course, there are also a variety of medications for nausea itself, which I don't know much about. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn