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About 2 months ago I was diagnosed with PD although I have had symptoms for about 6 months-- tremors and some lack of flexibility in my right hand. So far nothing intolerable or more than mildly disturbing. My questions to those in later stages are many. 1) Is there any reason to start medication at this stage. My predilection is to take nothing til I need it and it is likely to do good. My doctor prescribed Sinemet 25/100, half a tablet twice a day which I found unnoticeable. Moreover my reading suggested that L-Dopa is not good for prolonged use and would be better saved for later. He then put me on amantadine (?) 3 capsules a day. Noticed nothing. Then my physician and I agreed to try a few weeks of nothing. So far I may even feel better!! So, is nothing the right dosage for now? And how do I know the cross-over point? 2) The literature on PD is pretty pessimistic sounding. My doctor seems to think I've got 20 good years ahead (I'm 60 now). How gradual is the deteriation likely to be. Obviously it differs among cases, but what are the probabilities? 3) Since I'm 15 miles from Bethesda, I've called NIH about participating in clinical trials. Anybody have ideas on the likely payoff/problems of being a guinea pig? I'll shut up at this point. Hope to be a useful contributor to this list. ------------------------------------------------------------- [log in to unmask] Victor K Heyman Heyman Mailing Service 5609 Fishers Lane #3B Rockville, MD 20852 -------------------------------------------------------------