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Joan, Charley ... et al. Just an update to you all. It seems like Joan is experiencing what I expected from Symmetrel. Nothing! While I'm buzzin' on it. I guess that goes to show what an individualising disease this is. Full of surprises! I took 100 mgs at bedtime (as directed by the neuro) for a week - had significant response in 3 days. Increased by 100 mgs in the morning last Thursday, felt 'off' for 2+ days - balance, coordination - dry, sour-tasting mouth - like I was really 'losing it'. Then yesterday it all came good. Today I feel more like my old self than I have in years! I've been rushing across campus, striding up the stairs and generally feeling energetic and alert. This is probably a danger signal. I don't want to overdo it and fall in a heap. Like Charley I felt 'wired' in the evening at first, with restless legs eventually driving me to bed, but sleep problems have settled down, and I'm not so painfully stiff as I was in bed, so finding it easier getting up now. Generally feeling more 'fluid'. I now take 100 mg with water when I first wake (5-6 am) on an empty stomach, go back to bed for a bit, then 100 mgs about 5 pm with a drink of soy milk - I don't mind a spurt of energy in the early evening (the bedtime dose I think was a mistake). It IS rather pleasant to watch the fingers of my left hand extending themselves over their old territory on the keyboard - who cares if they're slow - at least they remember where to go! Thank you all for nursing me through this tiny drama. Oh. and Charley, I think you are right about the Mac, but I keep putting it off. And I know I shouldn't. It's a good habit to have tho', because so easy to just run off a print (with appropriate editing!) to prime us for each visit to the neuro. Thanks for that encouragement. Perhaps we need to be reminded from time to time ... ? Beth >Joan Dykstra wrote about Amantadine/Symmetrel. > >My meds began with only Eldepryl, with Amantadine added soon after. Later >Parlodel was added. More recently, Sinemet CR was added to my daily meds. > >My experience with Amantadine is that it has good affect on tremor. For >good affect on slow movement and walking problems, I had to go from >Amantadine 100mg twice/day to three times/day. After about another year, >Parlodel was added. > >(note- This was before I bought my Macintosh. I wish that I had kept >better records on the progress of my Parkinsons. It's difficult sometimes >to go back and construct a record of events. I recommend to new PWP, use >your Mac or PC to keep a record of your experiences and medications.) > >A problem that I had with taking Amantadine three/day is that it would get >me feeling "wired" in the evening. And when I did go to bed, I would >frequently wake up 2-3 hours later and be unable to go back to sleep. > >Since I have been taking Sinemet 50/200 CR twice/day, I have reduced my >Amantadine to twice/day. I never take Amantadine later than my noon meal. >I don't feel "wired" anymore and sleep much better. However, right hand >tremor has reappeared. But I can deal with a small amount of tremor. The >only time that it becomes a problem is when I'm involved in a frustrating >situation at work. There seems to be a direct relationship between >frustration and tremor. > >I take Sinemet with orange juice in the morning and 7-Up or water in the >afternoon. I always take Amantadine with a meal though, because it seems >to irritate my stomach. The primary reasons that I continue with >Amantadine is 1) it seems to be very effective with my tremor, 2) lowers >the amount of Sinemet that I need, and 3) it may be able to protect neurons >in some patients (Scientific American Jan 1997). I get my meds through the >HMO provided by my employer, so I assume the Amantadine is generic. > >I hope this helps anyone who is just starting or may be soon taking Amantadine. > > Charley Countryman (46/6) [log in to unmask]