 |
 |
Try http://www.rxlist.com/ for a complete, comprehensive, and relatively easy to navigate site re: meds, P.D. and otherwise. Carole Hercun, R.N. and P.W.P. --- mackenzie <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > hmmmm... well, a dopamine agonist does not stimulate - > as far as i have ever read - the release of available > dopamine in the brain. rather, it mimicks the action > of dopamine, as per this definition from a website > affiliated with the Parkinson Alliance: > > A drug that acts like dopamine. DAs combine with > dopamine receptors to mimic dopamine actions. Such > medications stimulate dopamine receptors and produce > dopamine-like effects. > www.dbs-stn.org/glossary1.asp > > And this definition of a receptor agonist from the > Alzheimer's Association website: > > "A substance that mimics a specific neurotransmitter, > is able to attach to that neurotransmitter’s receptor, > and thereby produces the same action that the > neurotransmitter usually produces. Drugs are often > designed as receptor agonists to treat a variety of > diseases and disorders in which the original chemical > substance is missing or depleted." > > i like to have my facts straight so i would love it if > you could forward me your internet sources. > > Depending on how one define's "dopamine agonist," one > could interpret the package insert for symmetrel > (amantadine) as saying that it is a dopamine agonist > (it says "Data from earlier animal studies suggest > that SYMMETREL may have direct and indirect effects on > dopamine neurons.") but it is not referred to as a > dopamine agonist on the insert. > > It *is* referred to as an NMDA receptor antagonist: > > "More recent studies have demonstrated that amantadine > is a weak, non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist > (Ki = 10?M)." > > NMDA is a glutamate receptor - glutamate is another > player in the PD mechanics landscape, but i know > almost nothing about that. > > i wish i could do yoga - that's not true - i secretly > consider the fact that i can't do yoga to be a teensy > silver lining to the collapsed disc - but i am glad it > is working for you. > > > > --- Terry Robertson <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > For the record, from my internet sources, Amantadine > > IS an antiviral, but it is also described as a both > > a mild dopamine agonist and a drug that "stimulates > > the release of available dopamine in the brain > > thereby improving symptoms." As such if it works... > > use it and perhaps I' ve been lucky regarding side > > effects (particularly no red/purple blotching on the > > skin), but the prospect of some flu and other viral > > protection is a plus for me and with PD it is > > important to look on the positive side! > > On a lighter note, I find there are only positive > > side effects to my yoga exercises. > > > > > > *********** REPLY SEPARATOR *********** > > > > On 9/1/2006 at 11:42 PM mackenzie wrote: > > > > >amantadine is not a dopamine agonist, it is an > > >anti-viral. > > > > > >dopamine agonists, from what i know of them, fool > > >receptors into acting like they have come in > > contact > > >with dopamine, as opposed to levodopa, which is the > > >precursor to dopamine and is actually metabolized > > into > > >dopamine in the brain (well, mostly in the brain > > since > > >the addition of carbidopa, which inhibits its > > >metabolization before it gets to the brain) > > > > > >--- Terry Robertson <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > > > >> Bill: > > >> I am 59 and was diagnosed with mild onset of PD > > >> about a year ago. My neuro, who describes himself > > as > > >> a minimalist, (meaning I think he prescribes only > > >> what is absolutely necessary) started me on > > >> Amantidine when I said I really wanted something > > to > > >> assist with my slowing gait and stiffness of > > >> movement. Amantidine is a dopamine agonist, > > meaning > > >> I think that it helps or encourages what dopamine > > is > > >> being produced to 'go a little further' or work > > a > > >> little better. For me it seems to help somewhat > > with > > >> relatively few side effects. I find doing yoga > > >> exercises also helps me to relax and reduce some > > >> muscle stiffness. > > >> Hope this helps. > > >> Terry > > >> > > >> *********** REPLY SEPARATOR *********** > > >> > > >> On 8/31/2006 at 11:02 AM William P. Taggart > > wrote: > > >> > > >> >AMANTADINE? > > >> > > > >> >My neuro is proposing that I add Amantadine to > > my > > >> meds... (I'm > > >> >primarily on Sinemet.). > > >> > > > >> >I'd like to hear any input you'd care to > > share... > > >> > > > >> >Many thanks. Bill > > >> > > > >> >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > >> > > > >> > > > >>---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > >> >To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > > >> >mailto:[log in to unmask] > > >> >In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> >-- > > >> >No virus found in this incoming message. > > >> >Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > >> >Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/436 > > - > > >> Release Date: 9/1/2006 > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> -- > > >> This message has been scanned for viruses and > > >> dangerous content by MailScanner, and is > > >> believed to be clean. > > >> > > >> > > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > >> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > > >> mailto:[log in to unmask] > > >> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > >> > > > > > > > > >__________________________________________________ > > >Do You Yahoo!? > > >Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam > > protection around > > >http://mail.yahoo.com > > > > > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > >To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > > >mailto:[log in to unmask] > > >In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > > > > > > > > > > >-- > > >No virus found in this incoming message. > > >Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > >Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/436 - > > Release Date: 9/1/2006 > > > > > > > > > > -- > > This message has been scanned for viruses and > > dangerous content by MailScanner, and is > > believed to be clean. > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > > mailto:[log in to unmask] > > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection > around > === message truncated === ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn