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Dear Ivan, What you have described sounds very similar to what my husband has been experiencing since he began Tasmar on March 10th. Bob was on 2400 mg. of L-dopa (only for a couple of months)- two 10/100 every two hours (around the clock). Since beginning the Tasmar: one 200mg. for one day and two 200mg for one day and then three 200mg on day three. Bob is now on approximately 1200 mg of L-dopa. He too has longer "on" time (previously he had 2 hours or less "on", now, he has had 4 and 5 hours "on"!!!!) and the approaching "off" time is not as terribly pronounced, much smoother. Bob too describes a "hot" feeling sometimes in hands, sometimes in feet, he thinks he feels this shortly before starting to go "off". Bob is still having trouble with food blocking his medicine. He does stay away from proteins. We have ordered the 7-1 carb/protein drink too. Bob too is trying to get the Tasmar and the Sinemet fine tuned. I will keep you posted and we look forward to hearing more good news from you too! Take care, Jackie CG for Bob, 47yrs, 6yrs Ivan M Suzman wrote: > > ^^^^^^WARM GREETINGS FROM^^^^^^^^^^ > Ivan Suzman 48/10 [log in to unmask] > Portland, Maine, USA land of lighthouses 20 deg. F Bright > moonshadows on the snow > *********************************************************** > Dear Friends, > > I am writing to share with you some hopeful news from Portland, > Maine. We have started a promising, > fingers-crossed-for-good-luck-adventure with tolcapone (Tasmar). We > began on Wednesday, March 11th. The pharmacist finally got a supply, and > thinks that Medicaid will pay for it. > > Just ONE FOURTH OF A TABLET (25 mg) of Tasmar, added to 125 mg. of > Sinemet (50 mg of yellow 25/100 plus 75 mg of pink, football-shaped > 25/100 CR), extends my typical on-time of 80 to 110 minutes, to anywhere > from 180 to 280 minutes ( 4 hours and 40 minutes )! The wearing-off > period is less sudden. I get just a little bit drowsy, so I drink some > sweetened coffee a short while after it kicks in. The slight drowsiness > then disappears. > > Yesterday, I was able to go driving the '88 Chevy Blazer in stormy > weather.. Using four-wheel drive over snowy roads, I visited a sick > friend whom I had not seen since October, stopped at a corner store, did > some shopping, drove back home, and did a little house-cleaning. I did > not get cold, even though it was snowing, and the northeast wind was > blowing like crazy. Jay traveled with me. I did ALL of the driving. > > Today, I was able to spend hours with Jennie and Nicky (Jay's > daughter and son, 14 and 9), who were here, visiting us for the weekend. > I didn't get tired out. Everyone who drops by is amazed at how smoothly I > seem to be functioning on Tasmar. > > But, the carbidopa/levodopa pills (Sinemet 25/100 and Sinemet > CR25/100) need to be reduced. I am experiencing a new dyskinesia, along > with a "hot" feeling, for unpredictable lengths of time, long after > swallowing the 25 mg of Tasmar. Probably my dose frequency and my dose > amounts both need adjustment. > > My usual 1400 mg/ 24 hr is already down to 900 mg. My doctor wants > me to start two Tasmar doses per day as soon as I can. Eventually, I may > be able to tolerate 3 doses a day. > > My Question Is: > > Would you ( PWP's and CG's) please describe your experiences in > REDUCING YOUR SINEMET DOSES (or your MADOPAR) WHILE FILTERING IN TASMAR > DOSES? > > I hope this question is of interest to many listmembers. Thank you > for sharing. > > Ivan Suzman :-)