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Kathie Tollifson wrote: > > I have a friend from my Young-Onset group that has been in a serious crisis > for a week, and I don't have a solution. Maybe some of you veterans can > shine some light? > > Ron is about 55, taking anti-parkinsonian drugs for 5 years or so. He is > prescribed (4) 25/100 sinemet CR, (4) 2.5 permax, (2) 5 mg eldepryl, plus > an antidepressant called Olanzepine ( I think) that he takes at night before > bed. For some reason his second dose of eldepryl is prescribed specifically > to be taken at bedtime also. > > He has always seemed a little less in touch than the rest of us in the YO > group, but lately he is much more confused, so we started visiting him > occasionally to see if he was OK, he lives alone. Last week one of the men > from the group called me in great alarm, said Ron had taken all 4 of his > sinemt at once, and was confused and hallucinating. Over the next few days > it became apparent that he was hallucinating all the time, whether he took > his pills or not, and that he was so confused that he was usually not even > remembering his meds. Last Wed he went to Burger King, and I'm not sure > what all happened, but 3 hours later the fire dept brought him home. That > night I took him to the emergency room, mainly because I couldn't leave him > alone in the state he was in, and I had no solutions. They kept him 5 days, > the last 3 in the psychiactric ward, and the psychiatrist told me he had > diagnosed Ron as psychotic. > > Monday they tossed him out on the streets with no change in meds, and three > days of Home Health visits arranged, and a caution to me from 3 different > doctors to not let him drive. Here we are now, with little improvement, Ron > can not figure out his meds, he freezes for long periods, and is still > extremely confused. > > I don't know what to do. He is not safe alone, but wishes to remain > independent. Apparently he has the resources to afford some domestic > assistance, such as a part time companion, and I am willing to help with his > meds, but I wonder if this isn't just putting off the inevitable, and also > exposing him to great danger. I frankly don't think his hallucinations are > tied to the sinemet because he has them even when he is very off. But I'm no > expert on PD-related hallucinations and psychosis. > > HELP!! > > Kathie Tollifson > [log in to unmask] > 47/9 HI KATHIE, My neurologist in my home town(who I see on a yearly basis for a second opinion) increased my sinemet which stopped my freezing and equilibrium problems. (56/19 YRS) I Only take 5 mg of eldypryl (which both of my neurologists feel is all that is necessary)and I have always been told not to take it later than lunch time. Best of luck to your friend! best of luck to you with miraplex! Carol Gray [log in to unmask]