--------------------- Forwarded message: Subj: aricept and PD Date: 97-06-01 14:18:25 EDT From: KMCRAE To: [log in to unmask] I am cg for Ken who has PD and SDS(extreme postural hypotension) and dementia. He kept PD under great control with sinemet and eldepryl for almost 10 years after being diagnosed in 1982, so we know he truly had PD. In the past five or six years, the SDS has slowly progressed along with the PD and dementia to the point that he was bedridden in a nursing home last fall, unable to communicate clearly or to stand up without passing out. We obtained a new drug, midodrine , to work with florinef to keep his standing BP up and brought him home with a full-time nursing assistant. With physical therapy, he can now walk short distances, and we (the nurse, he, and I) all went to Yosemite National Park for two weeks. His neurologist recently agreed to start him on aricept as she says his dementia is "atypical" and it is worth a try. He is only taking 5mg daily which will be increased to 10mg after six weeks if it helps. Already(after two weeks) many people are noticing the change. He can get out words that he wants to say. He is more interested in the people around him and more responsive to them. He has even begun to read again. he is even better able to communicate his toilet needs. My youngest daughter had a long conversation with him and was in tears with joy. I know that aricept "shouldn't" work with PD, but sometimes "shouldn't" doesn't mean "won't". I am eternally grateful to our doctor for being willing to try new things to help my husband. Barbara Smith cgKen69/16