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Ron Reiner ([log in to unmask]) 48 + 7mos PD wrote: <<I (as well as a lot of other recent diagnosees ) am making every attempt to delay starting Sinemet as long as possible. Am I deluding myself? Have there been any formal studies on this issue?>> There are few formal studies - and there will be none that are not confounded by the use of varying dose and added medications that cover a number of years. I consider it foolish to delay use of the only available medication that does the best job by far in replacing the deficit in neurotransmitter dopamine. Ron is not the only Parkinsonian doing this delaying - and there seem to be numerous advocates that recite that deprenyl or some other expensive pill was sufficient to reduce symptoms allowing delay in starting laevo-DOPA. The minimization of medication amount always makes sense. (This is from the patient's point of view. NOTA BENE: the drug manufacturer is in business to maximize his income. Let the buyer beware!) I challenge the drug companies or the pharmacists or clinicians to present the data that show any benefit in using any other drug first or in delaying the usage of levodopa. (I anticipate no response.) ron 1936, dz PD 1984 Ronald F. Vetter <[log in to unmask]> http://www1.ridgecrest.ca.us/~rfvetter/