> > From: Margaret Tuchman <[log in to unmask]> > Subject: Medical Emergencies & Sinemet Overdose > Observations and Questions: > 1/ It is nice to be able to eat protein during the day and it is wonderful not > to > have to take medication every two hours. > 2/ I had NO dyskinesias, until 7 hours after taking the meds, when I had > minor end-of-dose dk. just before I started to tremor and I knew I needed more > Sinemet. How come? > 3/ I felt good, I had energy - I was high! I was able to work, shop, garden. > 4/ I am told that I was "not my usual self" (?) - my speech was slurred, I was > slow in my thinking. This is opposite to what I felt. I suppose that the > feeling > of euphoria is quite common when taking cocaine, or other stimulants? > 5/ if the half life of regular Sinemet is approx. 2 hours, how come I had a > 7 hour free ride? Is the therapeutic effect cumulative? > 6/ since 750 mg lasted 7 hours, does that mean that I really need 100 mg > per hour and basically I am always under medicated? Hello, Brian??? > 7/ what role does Tasmar play in this equation? I've been taking 300mg > per day and had cut my Sinemet from 1100 to 750. But, the last week I > was not holding the "ON" for the two hours. I was given the advice that > perhaps cutting the Tasmar in half would extend the ON. I really had no > chance to give this alternative a proper trial yet. Another complication > has arisen, I am having > the "Tasmar Runs" and from what I understand, once that side effect happens, > there are only two alternatives, cut back on the Tasmar or stop taking it. > 8/ While I felt really fine the day of the OD, I was a rag the day after > and even most of the day today. I am tired and slow moving, though > I get plenty of rest in the bathroom/WC/loo. > Hi Margaret I am glad you had a good time on " overdose " . I have to take enough L-dopa everyday to get above dyskinesia level . I dont believe dyskinesia is too much dopamine but rather a certain level between PD symptoms and non PD symptoms ( for me ) . I get dyskinesia 45 mins after first morning pill and 3-4 hours after last evening pill . Sometimes during the day my dyskinesia comes back and I immediately have to take two pills to get out of this hole,which I boost out of in 45 mins and I dont have to take another pill for 3 hours instead of the usual 2 . The only ill effects from dopamine overdose is dizzyness . Smoking your first cigarette produces a dopamine overdose . I have explained in numerous postings why this is happening according to my theory that PD is a neurone firing pattern spasm not essentially a shortage of dopamine . In fact over the last few weeks reviewing the lack of improvement in PD sufferers by cell transplants and the increasing success of pallidotomy and DBS , I am beggining to wonder if the lack of dopamine is the effect of the neurone firing pattern spasm rather than the cause . In other words does the change in brain activity mean less dopamine is required and there fore the dopamine producing cells die off . What about the beneficial effect of boosting the dopamine level with L-dopa ? My experience with L-dopa is as follows . I took it for nine months with no effect ( my doctor and neuro disbelieved this ) . I could take 3 pills at once ( madopar 125 ) with NO effect . IT was only after a sustained 12 pills a day for a week that I started to react to both positive eefects and dyskinesia . This beneficial effect of L-dopa is the result of it changing your brain chemistry ( I believe ). Included in this is dopamine boosting . Dr. Sachs book " The Awackenings " describes many cases that parallel my own in needing a high dosage of L-dopa to kick in the beneficial effects . Maybe as a result of your experience you will join the sceptics/heretics on this list . My own position is that I have a duty to be sceptical of all theories ( including my own ) until the theory leads to a cure . peace Alastair ( [log in to unmask] )