Marjorie: Due to the AIDS epidemic, the FDA instituted a policy of allowing importation of prescription drugs from overseas. This policy was introduced in 1988 in a memo from a Director of FDA entitled "Pilot Guidance for Release of Mail Importations". Basically, any US citizen can order "banned" drugs from overseas if the order meets four criteria: 1. It is for personal use. 2 It will not be commercially distributed and the amount is not excessive (e.g., no more than 3 mos worth) 3. The intended use of the product is appropriately identified 4. Patient must provide name of physician supervising use of product. I found a copy of this directive in Appendix G of the book "Smart Drugs & Nutrients" by Ward Dean M.D. and John Morgenthaler (Health Freedom Publications). I have heard of people using this mechanism quite successfully. A major proponent of this procedure is a group called CERI (Cognitive Enhancement Research Institute) who advocate unrestricted use of "Smart" drugs like deprenyl for the fun of it. Ron Reiner (50/2) At 06:48 PM 1/1/98 +0000, you wrote: >On Thu 01 Jan, Marjorie Moorefield wrote: >> I have recently been suffering with what turns >> out to be an adverse reaction to the Carbodopa >> part of the Sinemet, and my ND changed me over to Larodopa. >> >> I'm on a forced drug holiday, since none of the pharmacies >> stock Larodopa anymore, but it is possible for them >> to order it. However, I won't be able to get it before Friday >> after work. >> >> I'm not going to say a drug holiday is bad for everyone, >> but I will say from personal experience, that for me >> at least, its a torture which I really don't need at this >> time!! >> >> Larodopa is Levodopa with out the Carbodopa, it was used >> widely in the 70's and it will cross the blood/brain barrier alone, >> but it will require twice the dosage of what I had to take of the >> Sinemet. >> >> Maybe one of the reasons Brian Collins is lucky enough to not >> have had problems is that he is fortunate enough to have a product >> which doesn't contain Carbodopa. Unfortunately it isn't available >> in the U.S. How I wish it were!!! >> >> Now, my question is, since I can't take anything to counteract >> the nausea, because it would bind with the levodopa and stop >> it from working effectively, and since Levodopa taken alone, and in the >> quantities >> I will have to take, will cause nausea, can anyone who has taken >> it give me any suggestions? My ND said to take it WITH meals. >> >> BTW, I can't take a PD agnoist because of other health problems, >> so I'm not able to even try Mirapex or Requip. >> >> >> >> Thanks in advance, >> Marjorie Moorefield, >> just another librarian >> with PD 65/9 >> >> >> >Hello Marjorie, I am sorry to read of your problems- the meds really do >seem to be ganging up against you. The last thing I want to do is cause >you excessive worry, but from what I can find out about using levodopa >on its own it should be considered as a last possible option (Page 43 of >McGoon's "The Parkinson's Handbook" has a good summary. > I am not familiar with US law, but I was wondering if there might be a >way of arranging for someone to mail you the necessary Madopar tablets >from (for instance) Canada? > I have spoken out before about the stress and harm resulting from a >drug company deciding not to clear their new drug in a particular country. >Accepting that these anomalies will happen, there ought to be a procedure >available for special cases like yours, to allow the import in small >experimental quantities. > Now that might be a possibility: Could your Neurologist declare you a >one-person experiment, and send off for Madopar as part of the experiment? >I am not being silly - I think it is a real possibility, and fully >justifiable in the light of your unusual allergy. > > By the way, I have at various times used Sinemet and Madopar together >and separately, and have found them completely interchangeable in my case. >However, without having any formal evidence to go on, I do get the >impression that Madopar users appear to have fewer adverse reactions >than Sinemet Users. > The chemical which we are talking about is of course Benserazide. I >have no idea how it is mixed with the levodopa, but I wondered if perhaps >Benserazide alone is available in the USA for some totally different reason. >After all, if Cabergoline can be unappproved for PD, and yet freely available >for drying-up the milk of lactating women, anything is possible! >Good luck with your problem. > >Regards, >-- >Brian Collins <[log in to unmask]> > >