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Dear Friend: Fortunately, my husband has never had hallucinations from any of his Parkinson medications (sinemet, bromocryptine, eldepryl, etc.), so I have no basis for comment. Sorry. k. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mrs. Karin M. Beros, MSO [log in to unmask] International and Area Studies voice: (510) 642-8542 Office of the Dean, 260 Stephens Hall fax: (510) 642-9466 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- On Sun, 12 Mar 1995, Karin Lee wrote: > I've been lurking on this list for a few weeks now, impressed with the > compassionate and "take care of business" attitude reflected by all > concerned. Since I have a question, an introduction is in order. > > I, Karin, am on this list on behalf of my mother, LaVerne, 77 this week. > (Diagnosed four years ago, takes Eldepryl.) She has a pronounced, increasing > left-side arm tremor. Her gait is smooth but very slow, and her balance is > fragile. Her handwriting degenerates after a line or two, to her regret. She > lives alone (my brother is a few blocks away), and still drives herself to > grocery store and doctor. I send her everything I learn from this list (I > live almost a thousand miles away.) Here's my question: > > Two years ago LaVerne participated in trials of a new drug, possibly > pramipexole, but I'm not sure. To her enormous disappointment she had to quit > the trial only a few weeks into it. She had begun having frightening, vivid > hallucinations (strangers in her home, fantastic characters standing around > her bed, etc.). Although the docs told us that "some PD patients just get > hallucinations," the suddenness of onset convinced us that medication was to > blame. Sure enough, when she went off the trial drug the hallucinations > stopped completely, just as suddenly as they began. > > Her doctor feels that her dramatic reaction to the trial drug means she's at > risk for the same side effect if she were to take Sinemet. Can anyone out > there tell me about the risk/benefit ratio of Sinemet in a patient who has > reacted to previous drugs in this manner (i.e., hallucinations in a normally > lucid person)? Anyone out there have the same experience with a trial drug? > Thanks in advance. >