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In response to a question about the drug Artane, which I missed, Russell J. Ahlstrom wrote ... >I have been on the drug for about 20 yrears and have only expierenced the normal >side effects of dry mouth, I have little or no tremor to speak of. In combination with >my other >Parkinson's medications Parlodel,Sinemet 25/100 and Sinemet CR, >Amantadine, it improves the rigidity factor of my Parkinson's. I have had only one >problem and that was about 5 years ago when I changed doctors and that was >very traumatic. The doctor decided that he was going to take Artane away >from me and he did it by cutting me off cold turkey. I told him that it >should be done in a slow manner but he was adimante that he was correct. Well >to make a long story short I ended up in the hospital totally rigid and >spent almost a week getting back to where I was before... This is a similar story to that of my wife, Margaret, who was introduced to Artane many years ago, and had been taking 5 mG three times daily. As the disease 'progressed' (regressed?), various other medications were introduced, and, because of its side-effects (in addition to a dry mouth they can include double-vision, constipation and mental disturbances), eventually it was decided that the Artane was redundant. However, she also found that she was 'hooked' and couldn't do without it. This was attempted in hospital rather than at home and the dosage was reduced to half its previous level. Even this was too sudden though, and she became very rigid and began shaking badly. The level was increased again, and it was concluded that she had an 'atypical ' Artane dependence. Understandably, the matter was not pursued, and all went as well as it goes for Parkinsonians until early this year, when Margaret experienced a rapid mental deterioration. This culminated in dementia, halucinations and, despite a continuing course of anti-depressants, pronounced depression Needless, to say, I couldn't continue to care for her at home and she was hospitalised. After brain scans had eliminated any physical causes, it was decided to try a very gradual reduction in her Artane intake, together with an equally protracted introduction to an anti-psychotic drug called Clozapine. To cut another long story short, after nine weeks in hospital she has finally overcome her Artane dependence. There is now a minor tremor that becomes more pronouced with stress, but this is a small price to pay for the mental improvement that has occurred. Margaret has completely regained her mental composure. There have also been several important bonuses. One of the beneficial side-effects of Clozapine, (there are others that are not so good, such as depressed blood pressure and white cell (?) count) is that it enhances tolerance to Sinemet. Previously, Margaret was unable to take more than 100-150 mG of this drug daily without suffering severely disabling dyskinesia. Now, she is taking double this dosage with almost no symptoms. Her vision has improved, as has her dry mouth, indeed, she has complained about exessive salivation! She is still constipated, but it is not nearly as bad as it was, and Margaret is expected to leave hospital perhaps next week.. Of course it will never be determined with any certainty that Artane was the culprit, but one moral of this account seems to be, instead of Artane, take care! Mark ----------- Mark Atyeo [log in to unmask] +61 6 286 2606