Debbie and Mary,
Is your internal shakiness something like mine?
When I was diagnosed with PD four years ago, I felt an internal tremor or
shakiness, or nervousness or tenseness. It was a strong pulsing at a
frequency of 5 to 20 cycles per second that I felt throughout my body---in
my abdomen, legs, arms, and extremities. It was painful.
My neurologist, who specializes in PD, said it was not one of the symptoms
of PD. Evidently he based his diagnosis of my PD on my other symptoms:
slowness, poor balance, stiffness and poor posture when I walked, cogwheel
effect in my arms, inability to touch my thumb to my fingers repetitively,
etc. I had no visible tremor. I was not taking medication.
He prescribed 5 mg Eldepryl (deprenyl or selegeline) 2 times per day. It
took nearly 1 month for the Eldepryl to have any effect, and about 2 months
to have its full effect. The Eldepryl increases the level of dopamine in
the brain because it inhibits one of the pathways of degradation of the
dopamine. It caused the internal shakiness to go away along with most of
the other symptoms, at least for a while.
About a year later my neurologist, who had a temporary appointment at a
local university, left town to accept a permanent position elsewhere. I
found a new neurologist, who also specializes in PD, and he also diagnosed
my condition as PD. I still had no visible tremor, but I felt a tenseness
or tingle inside that comes and goes, mostly in my extremities. I
described it to him, and he also said it was not a symptom of PD.
Since my PD had progressed, he prescribed Sinemet in addition to the
Eldepryl. When I took the Sinemet, the internal tingle went away within an
hour or so.
I now take a larger dose of Sinemet (six 25/100 per day) in addition to two
2.5 mg Parlodel per day. When the medication is working well, I feel no
tingle, but when it wears off, the internal tenseness or tingle often comes
back along with the PD symptoms. Evidently the tingle that I feel in my
extremities is associated with insufficient dopamine in my brain.
Baldwin Robertson, 62/4 [log in to unmask]
----------
From: Mary Legan
Sent: Friday, September 12, 1997 9:46 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN
Subject: Internal shakiness
I'm glad this topic has been brought up, as I too have very much wanted an
explanation of this phenomenon. I experienced this before my PD diagnosis,
when I described it to my neuro (who was treating me for migraines &
insomnia) as an "internal revving motor..........at that time I was taking
a
low dose of Sinequon with Xanax......then the Xanax was replaced with
Buspar
(needless to say, my "anxiety" didn't improve). At that same time, I was
experiencing hot flashes, etc. because of menopausal hormonal fluctuations,
which may or may not be relevant. When I then received the pd dx, I was
started on Sinemet, Paxil, & Trazadone (for sleep). No further problems
with
internal shakiness until several months ago. At the time I was taking
estrogen & progesterone, & having severe daily migraines. Also, the
internal
revving was happening again, & a difficulty which I don't remember having
before - the need to breathe deliberately & deeply. After some ado, I
discontinued the hormones ~6 wks ago. The migraines have shown moderate
improvement, but the other symptoms remain. I'm hoping that soon whatever
confounding effects the hormones have contributed will be out of the
picture.
It will make things much easier if whatever symptoms remain can clearly be
tied to the pd. Perhaps one or more of our list members can at least
explain
the internal shakiness, for my benefit & for the others who experience
this.
Explanations of the other issues I mentioned are also most welcome!
Mary
Legan 55/5+
<My mother Joyce (68/6 months) changed doctors recently. She was taking
25/100 Sinemet 4.5x/day, .25 Permax 5x/day, 10 mg. Paxil 1x/day. Her new
doctor wanted to reduce the Sinemet a bit and start her on Eldepryl. This
required her getting off the Paxil. About 4 days ago, she stopped the Paxil
and started feeling shaky inside -- a nervousness that wouldn't quit. She
decided today to continue the Paxil again (she hadn't started the Eldepryl)
and felt better. She suspects this internal shakiness/nervousness is a side
effect of the Permax. Any thoughts on this? Has anyone had a similar
sensation? Was it related to a particular drug. Thanks.
Debbie White
[log in to unmask]
