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Kitty and Joan:

I am writing this in response to Kitty Button and Joan Dykstra's request for
information from people with tremors who are taking Eldepryl only.  While I do
not quite fit in this category, I am writing because my beginning symptoms are
similar to yours, and also as my introduction to the list.

I have read reports from experts who think there are 2 or more types of
Parkinsons.   One of which is dominated by tremors, and the other types which
are dominated by otther symptoms like stiffness, slowness, and postural
problems.
The tremor dominated type progresses very slowly, and takes around 10 years
before the other symptoms start to be a problem.  I think I have the tremor
dominated type, and it sounds like you both do also.

Now for  my history.  The first symptom I noticed in Nov, 1985 was my right
index finger tapping on the table and some pain in my right shoulder.  I went
to a neurologist who also noticed I wasn't swinging my right arm and some
cogwheel rigidity in my right joints.  After a Brain scan test he diagnosed a
mild case of PD.
He started me on 2 mg of Artane 3 times a day.  The Artane did reduce the
tremors, but I would have occasional but brief dry throat, trouble speaking,
confusion, eye sensitivity to light, and nauseous feeling.  I tried Symmetryl,
Cogentin, and Permax, but none worked as good as Artane for tremors.  I
finally settled on 2 pills of 2mg of Trihexane(generic Artane) 4 times a day
(8mg total).

In March, 1989 I started taking 1 Sinemet 25/100 3x a day and stopped Artane.
After a period of adjustment, finally settled on 1 Sinemet 25/100 4x a day and
1 2mg Trihexane (generic Artane) 4x a day.  I resisted starting Sinemet
because of  reading about long range side efffects PD persons had.  My neuro
thought the sinemet side affects were because of the progression of PD and not
caused by the Sinemet.  I have been using Sinemet or Sinemet CR for 8 years
now and get mild Dykenesia (jerkiness) only when I over medicate because of
socializing.

I started on Eldepryl in 1990 and after much experimenting settled on 1 5mg
Eldepryl 2x a day.  I have really not noticed any symptom reduction from using
Eldepryl, but continue to use it because it is supposed to slow up PD
progression and I don't know how to prove that it doesn't.

Now other PD symptoms are becoming very bothersome.  These include weak voice,
slowness, stiffness in hands and arms, trouble writing, confusion, and others.
Tremors are still my biggest problem.  I tried Mirapex for a while, and .05mg
3x a day did help smooth out PD symptoms.  I decided to stop because I  felt I
was overmedicated, and to wait until my symptoms got worse.

My current medication is:
1/2 50/200 Sinemet CR 4x a day
1/2 25/100 Carbidopa/Ldopa (generic Sinemet) 2x a day as needed for fillin
  2  2mg Trihexyphen (generic Artane) 5x a day
   1 5mg Selegiline (generic Eldepryl)  2x a day in am

Artane is still my best defense against tremors, despite occasional side
effects.  I never read about anyone using it, and maybe thats because of the
side affects, or maybe they don't research it because of the low price,(
$12.87 for 200 the last time I checked).

I didn't mean  to write a biography, but this stuff is complicated.

Good luck,

John Stuart    [log in to unmask]