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On Fri, 10 Feb 1995 Bruce and Helen McCallum <[log in to unmask]> said: >I've been told by a couple of people that one should delay taking Sinemet "as long as possible" because >taking same increases the rate of dopamine producing brain cell loss. Does anyone know of expert >knowledge or opinion confirming this? >From "Recent Progress in the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease", by Eric Siemers, in "Comprehensive Therapy", September 1992, Vol 18, Issue 9, pages 20:24 - [begin quote] The use of LD [levodopa] also requires consideration of another possible drawback. Based on animal studies and retrospective clinical data, it has been suggested that the use of LD may accelerate the rate of the progression of PD. More carefully designed clinical studies have not shown this effect, however based on this theoretic possibility, treatment with LD is usually delayed until clearly necessary. The point at which treatment with LD should be initiated, which of all therapeutic interventions will most reliably provide a substantial response, must be individualized. Based on the above concerns, it also appears most prudent that the dose of LD, when treatment with it is deemed necessary, is minimized. [end quote] The studies cited are from the 1980's...has anyone heard of more recent studies on this topic? -- Doug and Diane Turner [log in to unmask]