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Rita Weeks, I would like to add to your information about a beta blocker and its effect on Parkinson's disease. Shortly after I showed symptoms and was diagnosed as having Parkinson's disease, I visited my ophthalmologist. I have had high pressures in my eyes for many years. It had reached the point that I was diagnosed as having glaucoma. At the time I was using Betagan drops in my eyes twice a day. The ophthalmologist remarked on my gait as I entered his office, and I informed him that I had just been diagnosed as having Parkinson's disease. He said immediately that I must stop taking the Betagan drops --- it is a beta blocker. I did stop taking the drops. By the end of the next day there had been a dramatic reduction in my Parkinson's symptoms --- I would say that my symptoms were reduced about 90%. It was amazing that a single tiny drop in each eye twice a day could make such a difference. My ophthalmologist's mother-in-law has Parkinson's disease. That is why he recognized my symptoms when I walked into his office. He had seen me only once before --- my former ophthalmologist had only just retired. So why are the effects of beta blockers on Parkinson's disease not more widely recognized? The FDA encourages the doctor and the patient to report such side effects. My neurologist was not interested in reporting my experience. Perhaps it was because she had not observed the effects personally. She did give me a form to fill out to report my experience to the FDA. I filled out the form --- a typical governmental bureaucratic form --- and mailed it in. I received a nice letter that informed me that my report did not constitute the basis for a law suit. It also enclosed an identical copy of the form that I had already submitted. It requested that I fill out the form and return it. I said some things to my wife, more or less amounting to the hell with it! She felt duty-bound to clear up this matter. She filled out the form all over again and mailed it in. Now brace yourself --- the next thing was that I received another very nice letter, a very similar letter to the first one, which told me that my report did not constitute the basis for a law suit. It also enclosed an identical copy of the form that I had already submitted twice. It requested that I fill out the form and return it. This prompted me to compose a rather strong letter back to the FDA. I related the events to date, and, to the best of my recollection, I think that I advised them on what best to do with their form. I informed them also that I did not desire to be their pen pal for the rest of my life. Three neurologists and one neuro-ophthalmologist have told me that they had never heard of such a side effect from Betagan. I really don't know how my ophthalmologist was aware of the potential. Perhaps the reason that the effects of beta blockers on Parkinson's disease are not more widely disseminated is that the FDA pays no attention to the reports that it receives! From: [log in to unmask] * SLMR 2.1a * McLean Virginia USA Sat 08-05-95 7:15 pm --- * KMail 3.00y