Print

Print


Hello,
I've just joined this list in the last couple of days.  I found the site
after combing the internet for information about Parkinson's.  My husband
was diagnosed last Friday, I don't know if this is the right place for me as
a 'caregiver'.  It seems the posts I've read so far are mostly from those of
you who are afflicted with this terrible disease yourselves.
But I do have a few questions that hopefully someone will be kind enough to
reply to:

1. My husband has been prescribed rasagaline (Azilect) which has apparently
just recently been approved by the FDA.  Does anyone have experience with
this drug?

2.  He was also diagnosed with combat PTSD resulting from his time in
Vietnam in the late 60's. - This condition flared up when the war in Iraq
flared up about 3 years ago.  If you're unfamiliar - this involves
hallucinations, flashbacks, losing touch with reality in the sense that
sometimes he didn't know if he was here, or back there in the midst of
gunfire..  The initial barrage pf drugs they gave him (including Depakote
and Respirdol) turned him zombie-like overnight - stooped posture, shuffling
gate, voice change, lack of affect and what had been a very minor tremor in
one hand quickly escaleted to both arms.  These I recognize now as
Parkinson's symptoms, but they were drug induced.  The mds were purposefully
lowering his dopamine levels to stop the PTSD symptoms.
Over the course of a year, they adjusted those meds and his Parkinson-like
symptoms abated, except for the tremors, voice and occasional affect issue.
It seems that these two conditions are at odds with each other in terms of
medication.  Does anyone else have both conditions?
I would love to hear from anyone with info about these two topics.
Also would love to hear from caregivers, if there are any here - or some
direction to a better site for that purpose... :-)
Sorry if I have gone on too long, I have never joined a list before.
Thanks for any advice or info.
Sheila

----------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn