In a message dated 96-11-26 19:52:39 EST, you write:
>Which one causes nausea? He'd like to get rid of that one first.
>
>
Samantha - I should start responding to you directly, since we've had so many
messages going back and forth. I have intuited, or ferreted out from between
the lines (joke) that you're less than enchanted with your doctors, or the
medical profession or whatever, and you seem a kindred spirit - one of my
"hot buttons" is doctors who don't listen or who don't know enough or
whatever it is. Anyway, I'll tell you what I know about these drugs and let
others add their bit, and maybe among all of us you'll have a place to start.
1. Sinemet causes nausea in some people, usually, I think, because of the
carbidopa.
I know L-dopa without carbidopa causes extreme nausea, but apparently some
people can get too much carbidopa. (Did we already have this discussion
before?).
2. ARTANE, however, might be the place to start if you want to attack the
nausea. The only thing I know about it is from Dick's experience. He was
taking Cogentin, which is similar to Artane, and for some reason his doctor
decided to switch him. He thought he was dying! Within a few hours of his
first dose he was deathly ill - or thought he was - and called me to come
home from work. He hadn't missed a day of work in 10 or 15 years by that
time, and couldn't believe he felt so sick.
By the way - a neurologist (one who fueled my skepticism about
neurologists who are not Parkinson's specialists) originally prescribed the
Cogentin. Once he started going to Dr. Koller (who IS a PD specialist) at KU
Med Center, Dr. Koller discouraged the use of the Cogentin, and indicated
without saying outright that it is not a drug of choice for PD. It's usually
used to treat tremors brought about by other powerful meds, and can cause
confusion, etc. Artane is basically the same thing, I understand. I know
there is a difference of opinion among doctors, but I would be interested in
knowing if anyone else out there besides Samantha's husband sees a PD
specialist who HAS prescribed Artane or Cogentin.
Good luck. Margie
