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>Lisa Carper asked about beginning Sinemet. Our experience: > >Don was diagnosed at age 37 and began taking Cogentin, then added Symmetrel. >These controlled the tremor (his major symptom) adequately for six years. At >the time these proved ineffective (i.e., tremor not suppressed), he began taking >Sinemet at low dosage (200mg/day). Things were fine for ten or eleven years. >Eventually, however, low doses of Sinemet proved ineffective, and he began >increasing his dosage--up to 2,800mg/day. This amt. of Sinemet did have serious >unpleasant side effects (Sinemet CR was worse). Decreasing the dosage to elimin >ate side effects meant the tremor was so bad he couldn't sit still, couldn't >walk, had trouble eating, reading, etc. That's why we went to France and had >the VIM stimulation surgery last year. Tremor is all but eliminated, and he's >been able to cut Sinemet to 500mg/day (no side effects). He also takes Eldepryl >. > >So--delay Sinemet as long as possible but don't go so long that symptoms are >unbearable (whatever that is to you). Start with as low a dosage as possible. >Continue to study alternatives and to support research. There may be better >medicines--perhaps even a cure--before yourusband get to the point that sent >us to France. > >Joanne Sandstrom >[log in to unmask] > > Hi Joanne, Please accept my apologies. This proves one should 'read on' before replying :) Lisa Carper --