Drowsiness happens to be one of the most aggravating and frustrating PD
symptoms I deal with each day. IF I'm very busy physically, it can be
forgotten about. However, if I'm relaxed.... sitting talking with someone or
am at the keyboard, well, I begin to feel myself drift in and out of deep
sleep.
GAWD! THIS DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!!!! It's SO embarrassing to fall asleep while
sitting on the sofa and talking with someone, or to doze off while a passenger
in a car!
I noticed that at about the time the drowsiness first strikes me each day - at
3:50 p.m. (not 4 p.m. - but 3:50!) <weird!>, my feet and ankles become
icy-cold (even tho the weather here might top 100 degrees I still get that
icy-feet-thinggee!). If I immediately lie down and put a heating pad on my
feet, while dozing for 45 minutes or an hour, I can usually cut the time I'm
so drowsy down from it's regular 3 or 4 hours. However, if I try to work
thru that down-time, it easily takes me that full 4 hours to once again feel
fully awake.
What's even stranger about this is I have been getting a full nite's sleep
for about 5 or 6 months now due to FINALLY biting the bullet and taking a
sleeping pill before bed each nite. (FYI... I'm taking the generic of
Restoril," and while I initially began taking an entire capsule, per the
directions, I now open each one and empty OUT slightly more than 1/2. THAT
works just as well for me!). Yet I STILL become profoundly tired almost every
day!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!! <--- Barb has a tizzy-fit in exasperation!)
Barb Mallut
[log in to unmask]
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From: Parkinson's Information Exchange on behalf of Albert Young
Sent: Saturday, August 16, 1997 7:34 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN
Subject: Re: drowsiness
On Sat, 16 Aug 1997, "John F. Mccabe" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>David,
>
>I am currently taking Amantadine and Mirapex and also experience drowsiness.
>I have fallen asleep in church, at dinner parties, at the movies, at support
>group meetings, etc.
John,
have no answers but sure can empathize with your sleeping problem. If
I'm active, OK, but if I sit down, forget it. It's onset is so rapid. In
public, it's an embarrassment, in private, a nuisance, especially when riding
a
lawn mower or sitting at the computer.
As you, I feel it's the meds. I take 200mg Amantadine, 4 - 25/100 Sinemet
daily (Mirapax didn't work for me, unfortunately).
Joe Young (65/5).
