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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