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Joan Dykstra wrote: " ... I tried Cogentin early on ... and it turned me into a zombie. ... I am trying Requip for now. If that doesn't work I will consider trying Artane." Joan: Thank you for your letter. I am writing to mention that Artane also has bad side affects. The worst one for me is anticholinergic intoxication. This occurs when I overdose or when I am increasing the dosage. It does make you feel like a zombie, with dizziness and light sensititvity because the pupil opens like when you have a glaucoma test. Fortunately, this only lasts for 15 minutes or so and happens only occasionally. I found that keeping the dosage at a steady level helps reduce side affects. However, Artane does reduce (but does not eliminate) tremors and I continue to use it. I take 16-20 mg of generic Artane (trihexyphenidyl) a day. Following is a summary from a speech given by Dr. Margaret M. Hoehn in Las Vegas that was printed in the 1998 UPF newsletter #1: "... Artane and Cogentin are good stand-bys but the the disadvantages to these types of drugs are many, espcially in older individuals. Dr. Hoehn said these side effects run the gamut of hallucinations, dry mouth, confusion, and poor memory to problems with bowel and bladder and are thus infrequently prescribed today as the disadvantages can outweigh the small benefit found. When used they are often prescribed in combination with other drugs and Artane is especially useful when patients experience severe tremor as a primary symptom." This PD is a mystery, and is hard to simplify and talk about since everyone got here by a different path. Keep talking to your neuro, and good luck with Requip. John Stuart [log in to unmask] 67/12