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Barb, I don't take Sinemet, but I do take Amantadine, 100 mg. 3 X a day. I also take Ergoloid Mesylate l mg 3 tablets three times a day, Parlodel, 2.5 mg 3 X day, Paxil 20 mg 2 X day, Zoloft 20 mg 1 X day, 2 100 mg caffeine 1 X day (recommended to combat fatigue by neuro), primrose oil capsule 3 X day, B-complex 1 tablet day. My non-PD meds are Levoxyl (low thyroid), Premarin (estrogen replacement) and Dyazide (diuretic). I can tell you that I still suffer absolutely crushing fatigue almost constantly. It may be the worst symptom of all. I don't know if all the other meds counteract the fatigue reducing effect of Amantadine or if it doesn't really help with fatigue at all. I just know it's not taking care of it for me. I frequently feel so weak that I feel as if I don't sit or lie down I will literally collapse. I don't know a lot about Amantadine (Symmetrel), but here is a synopsis I found in a brochure from APDA: Amantadine may have a number of chemical actions in the brain. It haw anticholinergic activity, may help release dopamine and may even have an effect on excitatory neurotransmitters in the basal ganglia. All three of these actions help relieve the symptoms of PD. It is sometimes used early in the course of the illness even before institution of levodopa therapy. It may be added to levodopa, particularly in patients with tremor that is not entirely relieved by levodopa. The main side-effect of amantadine includes a benign skin discoloration, usually in the lower legs, called livedo reticularis. Some patients may have increasing confusion or hallucinations. Don't know if this helps any, but thought I would offer it forth for what it's worth. Claudia 53/2 mo./big bunch of meds [log in to unmask] Barbara Mallut wrote: > Since I went off Mirapex last week I have spent every afternoon in an > unparalleled state of profound fatigue and drowsiness. I feel like > I've > missed an entire week of my life dozing off and on and never fully > awakening > between times. > > In an effort to break the chains of this fatigue, I've been racking my > brain > to think of possible ways - short of going back on Mirapex (which DID > stop > much of the fatigue, but it's negative side effects were awful). A > coupla > thoughts made it thru the brain-fog and I'd like to run 'em by the > List for > input... > > A thoughtful List-Sis emailed me suggesting I try Amantadine as that > drug is > used by persons with MS to combat the fatigue THAT disease causes it's > > victims. I know that Amantadine IS used by PWP, but that's about ALL > I know > about it (other than I know it's an anti-viral rather than a dopamine > based > drug). Does anyone here use Amantadine to combat PD-caused fatigue, > or has > anyone using Amantadine in lieu of Sinemet noticed they has less or no > > PD-caused fatigue? > > The following may be off-the-wall as far as being related to PD > fatigue, but I > thought I'd run it by ya all anyway just in case it DOES help in > fatigue > management. > > While expecting my second child 29 years ago I developed tremendous > fatigue. > My OB said that was because I was urinating so much (like all > expectant > mothers!) and losing potassium - which is stored in the kidneys - each > time I > went to the bathroom. > > The OB prescribed a potassium supplement and within 36 hours of my > initial > dose, I felt not only fine, but full of energy! > > For the past several years I could be solely responsible for global > deforestation because of the amount of TP I use each day due to > frequency of > urination. It follows that I MUST be continuously losing vast amounts > of > potassium (if indeed I have any left to lose, what with all the time > I spend > going back 'n forth to the bathroom each day!). > > Has anyone here on the List had potassium studies done, and/or takes > potassium > for reasons other than fatigue but notices they don't/didn't have > profound > daily fatigue? > > FYI - I have a neuro appointment scheduled on the 17th (NOT a movement > > disorder specialist and NOT one I've ever gone to before) <groaning> > at Kaiser > and have a complete physical scheduled with my primary care MD on Dec. > 3. I'd > like to go armed to both with as much information as possible. > > Thanks a lot.... > > Barb Mallut > [log in to unmask]