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I am 70 years old; have had Parkinsonism for 10 years; diagnosed by a family practioner on my first visit to him 7 years ago; began medication with amantadine (200mg); added selegiline(10mg) almost immediately thereafter; threw in bromocriptine(30mg) for years 2 and 3; dropped the bromocriptine and started on LDopa at the end of year 3. I have always been hypertensive and started on a calcium channel blocker at the same time I started PD medication -- so I have no hypotensive experience. Presently I am on a beta blocker and a calcium channel blocker for hypertension and my PD packet consists of amantadine(100mg) and carbidopa/LDopa(140/1400mg). I split 4 --25/250 and 4 -- 10/100mg tablets to take in various combinations about every 2 hours. My lifestyle requires at least 2 levels of activity. I am employed as a scientific adviser to an insurance company on matters chemical and meet with my clients to trade information, advice and data. I work as a volunteer two mornings a week as a wheel chair pusher to discharge patients from a local hospital. These activities require control of my tremors -- and my LDopa levels. On non-public days, I can accept tremor at times of my choice. I have found protein input and digestion rates have a very large effect on my LDopa absorption rates and effectiveness. I have found a method for exercising some control of this state of affairs. My controlled protein input is provided by a nutrient drink -- 2 cups of nonfat dried milk; 1/3 cup of ground/extruded dates and 2 cups of water -- blended until smooth in a Waring blender. On public days, I avoid protein during the day and take my tremors for about 4 hours at night when I drink the whole mix. On non-public days, I split the mix into 3-4 doses, each taken about 20 minutes after my LDopa ingestion. This gives me 3-4 shorter tremor "hits". Anyone interested in trying this approach ? God bless us all Pat Martin<[log in to unmask]>