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From: Barbara Duffin-Bates <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: PRAMIPEXOLE Barb - My husband has been taking part in the test for pramipexole for the past two years. It has been an interesting, and frustrating, experience. The test came at a good time for us because Iain had been on sinemet/bromochriptine/eldepryl for years and was having a violent reaction to them. Now, 2 years later, he is on the highest level of pramipexole (level 7), with eldepryl twice a day, and 1/2 tablet simemet 25/100 3 times a day. So, his sinemet dosage is way down, but his dyskinesia has come back with a vengeance. And he really crashes between dosages. We have always felt that he would do better with a lower dosage, maybe 4 times a day instead of 3, but the constraints of the test forbid this. The testing of a new drug is extremely rigid (we must account for every pill) and no alteration of procedure is permitted, even if it would benefit the patient and make their drug look even better. We have tried taking the sinemet and the pramipexole at different times, but that didn't work at all. Even taking the pramipexole with a quarter tablet of sinemet does nothing. It seems that a certain level of sinemet is necessary to "kick start" the pramipexole. So, my opinion is that this is not a wonder drug - the side effects seem to be much like sinemet. But perhaps, once the drug is released and we can adjust the dosage times and levels, things will get better. Here's hoping. Like you, I would be interested in hearing how other people participating in the study are faring. thanks for asking. Barb Bates [log in to unmask] ps. my husband does not have RLS. Date sent: Sun, 7 Jan 1996 17:53:41 - 0500 From: [log in to unmask] Subject: PRAMIPEXOLE I got a call this week telling me that Dr. Mark Corrigan of Upjohn reported that after testing pramipexole on 900 patients with PD and there was a 20 - 30% improvement in PD symptoms. Pramipexole is a more selective long lasting dopamine agonist. It is hoped that this drug will be more effective and have less longterm side effects than levadopa. Does anyone have first hand knowledge of this study? Cabergoline is another dopamine agonist being tested. It is a one dose per day agonist showing promise in patient trials. I hope one of these new drugs will prove out as Sinemet isn't proving to be the magic bullet - albeit Sinemet is the best drug we have for PD at this moment. BTW did any of the PD patients in these trials have RLS and find that their drug helped calm down the symptoms of RLS (restless leg syndrome)? RLs is a bigger pain to me than PD is? I mean PAIN literally as advanced RLS is very painful. Barbara Yacos <[log in to unmask]>