 |
 |
As one of the non-parkinson readers of the List I would like a bit more information before following Brian Collins's suggestion that I should start taking eldepryl to protect what ever few neurons I have left. In particular I would want to see the further studies promised in the A J Lees paper "Comparison of therapeutic effects and mortality data of levodapa and levodopa combined with selegiline in patients with early, mild Parkinson's disease (BMJ Vol 311 16/12/95 pp1602-6). The statistics showed that "After average of 5-6 year follow up, mortality was about 60% higher in patients given the combined treatment than in those given levodopa alone, and that this effect was independent of sex and age" One of the follow up studies promised was "A detailed review of the hospital case notes and general practitioner records of the patients who died is proposed in which an independent review will be carried out by a neurologist, general practitioner -------- etc." If I have missed either a rebuttal of the interim report, or the promised follow-up I shall be grateful if some one will point me in the right direction. However, in the mean time I would like to thank Brian for his consideration, but will not be following it up at present. My own theory about the higher death rate associated with eldepryl is that it was caused by drug interactions, particularly the potential fatal interaction between eldepryl and pethadine. When Helen was first put on eldepryl she was not warned about the interactions which have featured on the Parkinsn Listserver, and if she had had to have an emergency operation she could well have been one of the statistics. With the long half life of Eldepryl in the brain, and the failure of some hospitals to take account of all of the medication being taken by the patient, I'll take my chance on the lightening strike analogy used by Brian. Incidentally the lightening strike analogy could be the flaw in his argument. Depending upon the particular geology and geography lightening frequently strikes the same place again and again - isn't there some where in that States where you can almost guarantee seeing a lightening strike?. Ray ([log in to unmask])