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At 23:20 20/01/97 -0500, Henry Guttentag <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > >TO ALL MEMBERS: >I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY WIFE WHO HAS HAD PD FOR AT LEAST 8 YEARS. HER >PERSONALITY HAS TOTALLY CHANGED TO THE POINT FROM PASSIVE TO VERY VERY >AGGRESSIVE. I AM WONDERING NOW IF THE MEDICATION IS NOT PLAYING HAVOC >WITH HER. SO I AM REQUESTING IF ANYBODY HAS HAD BAD EXPERIENCES WITH ANY >OF THE MED. COMBINATION SHOWN BELOW. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT. THE >DOCTOR (NEUROLOGIST) DOES NOT THINK SO, BUT I BELIEVE THAT HE MIGHT BE >WRONG. >SHE SHOULD BE ON SINAMET HOWEVER SHE CLAIMS TO HAVE SIDE EFFECTS FROM >THE MEDICATION,SO THE DOCTOR HAS KEPT HER ON ARTANE?? >MEDS SHE TAKES: > >ARTANE, EFFEXOR, ATIVAN,VICODIN, LODINE, RISPERDAL AND PANCREAS Henry, Margaret was on Artane for about 15 years at first by itself, and later, in combination with other drugs including Sinemet and Bromocrypten (Parlodel) However, her tolerance to the latter drugs was not very good and she found the Artane to be essential to her well being. Her neurologists wanted her to stop the Artane but she found that she relied on it too much to stop. Eventually, though, she began to experience hallucinations and exhibit symptoms of agitated paranoia. She was now under a different neurologist who said OK we'll have to taper the Artane off very gradually. At the same time he began giving Margaret Clozapine (Clozaril). This was done with two objects. To lessen the paranoia, and to increase her tolerance to Sinemet by reducing the dyskinesia. This was introduced even more gradually than the Artane was reduced but by the end of a 10 week stay in hospital Margaret was able to tolerate 100 Mg of Clozapine nightly without suffering from undue sleepiness the next day. (This is a side effect that mainly affects older people and limits their Clozapine tolerance to well below what is administered to younger schizophrenics) She was also better able to tolerate the Sinemet and the Artane had been eliminated from her regime without any obvious increase in PD symptoms. More importantly, though she had completely recovered from her demented state. I repeat, the key to the achievement of the seemingly impossible task of weaning her off Artane was gradual changes in the dosage and the building up of her tolerance to Sinemet. Hope this helps you to find a neurologist who can effect a similar transformation in your wife. Regards, M. ----------- Mark Atyeo 5/51 Alexander Mackie Circuit Isaacs A.C.T. 2607 Australia Telephone: 61 6 286 2606