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Richard - You wrote: > >I take Sinemet 25/100 4x daily, sometimes I use the CR. I stopped Permax 1 >1/2 months ago because it seemed to make worse the symptoms I'll describe. >Additionally, I had quadruple bypass surgury, with a valve replaced. > >I have tightness around my neck like a band being pulled tight -- then this >feeling moves up to my head, squeezing my head tight. This makes my vision >blurry. My lower ribs also feel like there's a band tightening. My heart >valve then thumps so loudly that it scares the heck out of me. When I was >taking the Permax, all of this was painful. Then I stopped the Permax, and >the symptoms went away. Now, much to my dismay, they're back, but they're >not painful yet. My first thought on reading this was that this sounds like high blood pressure plus some kind of cardiac problem. According to "The Pill Book," which I find more helpful than the PDR for a layman, and sometimes more complete, Permax (Pergolide) requires this, among other, Cautions and Warnings: >People who are prone to abnormal heart rhythms should be cautious when taking >Pergolide because of possible cardiac side effects. Out of a long list of possible side effects, I've selected the following to quote for you: >Pergolide can affect virtually any body part or system because of its effect on basic >body hormones. in studies of the drug, about 1 in 4 people who started on Pergolide >stopped because of side effects. (snip) >Less common side effects are...neck or back pain...chest pain...heart palpitations, >blood pressure changes, abnormal heart rhythms, heart attack, heart failure.... I know you stopped the Permax 6 weeks ago, but did you see your doctor about this constellation of symptoms? Now that they're back, I'd strongly recommend seeing *without delay* the doctor who performed the bypass or the doctor who referred you for the bypass - whoever you think most appropriate. Whether or not this is Permax-related, it certainly sounds cardiovascular in origin, at least to this non-medical person. Please - get thee to a doctor! Good luck, and please let us know what you find out. Margie Swindler cg for Dick, 52/15 [log in to unmask]