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Hugh, I've been taking pramipexole for three years as part of a drug trial program at Washington University in St. Louis. My neurologist, who is overseeing the study, thought I would be a good candidate because I was falling a lot and breaking bones. It really has helped with my balance; I've only had one sprained ankle since I've been taking it. Basically, it is a helper drug - a dopamine agonist like permax and parlodel. It gives me a boost when I take it, but seems to wear off by the next dose of sinemet. Frankly, I didn't think it was doing much for me until one day I got busy and clean forgot to take it. I woke up during the night with a terrible panic attack - heart pounding,and trembling from head to foot, obviously undermedicated. It was only then that I realized I had missed a whole day's dosage. I wasn't sure what to do, but decided to take a dose then and there, and it did make a difference. Besides balance, it also seems to help my handwriting; I've noticed a positive improvement in that area. Sometimes when I take it after a dose of sinemet I experience dyskinesia from being overmedicated.\ I believe it's going to be marketed next year. From what I hear, though, tolcapone sounds like an even more effective drug. Hope this helps. Pat Schark pine`