Jim,
I think your idea is a good one. Although, I think that there is a gray
area between symptoms and side-effects. Common side-effects listed on
almost all drug description inserts include constipation, malaise,
myoclonus(spasmotic twitching of a limb during sleep), dsytonia, and
urinary incontinence. They could be the exacerbation of current symptoms or
the drug could be the root of their existence.
Even with this blurring of details, we should endeavor to find true
differences between PD symptoms and the side effects to their treatment.
Regards,
Greg Leeman<[log in to unmask]>
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Slattery <[log in to unmask]>
To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, January 16, 1998 1:58 AM
Subject: Re: Parkinson's disease and viruses
>>List, I have approached Parkinson's disease in a different
>manner, than
>>most physicians. What I have looked at is breaking
>Parkinson's disease
>>down into smaller parts. He had symptoms that may or may
>not be related
>>to the disease, but I took each one apart separately and
>began,
>>hopefully the best treatment. Blood, hair, and urine was
>used to
>>identify any deficiencies and these were treated
>accordingly with
>>back up testing.
>
>
>Hi Linda,
>
>In our research group, we took the approach that there were
>PD symptoms, PD-related side effects, and PD
>medication-related side effects.
>
>The PD gross symptoms of PD are akinesia ("freezing"),
>bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and dyskinesia
>(inappropriate involuntary movement, including chorea -
>dance like movements - , trembling, "restless legs", etc.)
>
>But PD also affects the central nervous system, and can
>cause digestive upsets, constipation, inappropriate sweating
>or shivering, circulatory problems, etc. These may be said
>to be PD-related side-effects.
>
>Medications can cause hypotension (low blood pressure),
>anxiety, depression, dry mouth, giddiness, sleeplessness,
>etc. <Phew>
>
>Of course, not everyone gets all of the side effects (just
>as well, eh?)
>
>There are two things PWPs and carers must look out for:
>1. Ignoring a symptom of a non-PD disorder as being "just
>another PD side-effect", when it may indicate some problem
>requiring further medical attention, and
>2. Treating a PD-related side-effect in isolation from PD,
>without any correlation of medications, as though
>it were an unrelated, separate disorder.
>
>Both can be dangerous. PWPs, primary carer, and all
>health-care givers should be aware of the PWPs individual
>needs, manifest symptoms, medications, and side-effects.
>
>Jim 59/13
>[log in to unmask]
>
