> > From: Nicole Gall <[log in to unmask]> > Subject: Exiting the Tasmar Twilight Zone > > I just wanted to share my experience w/the funky little brown pill....I > started out w/the smaller dosage of 100 mg, 3X a day.....felt great!! Had more > energy, could really move............after awhile tho things leveled off so I > bumped up to 200mg, 3X a day while cutting back on my Sinemet from 50/200 to > 25/100 3X a day.......but things stopped being so rosey after awhile.......I > started feeling weak when I would take the Tasmar........it felt more like my > symptoms worsened after taking it......I eventually got to the point where all > I could do was l lay on the couch all day....it was extremely hard to > breathe...I was lucky if the meds kicked in enough for me to fix some > lunch........I had nightmares every night......and always felt > "befuddled".....barely able to answer a question.......I got to the point > where it was too miserable to exist that way any longer......I gradually > weaned myself off & feel like a new person......I no longer have to wait hours > for my meds to start working.....I feel so much stronger now.....able to think > and form sentences...I realize we all have our different responses to these > wonderful drugs........I just wanted my experience to be shared so that others > might know what possibilities may lay ahead of them.......here's hoping I am > the exception.........Nicole Gall 38/ Hi Nicole I exited far sooner . I have been diagnosed with PD for just over two years and was prescibed L-dopa straight away ( Madopar ) . I suffer from beggining and end dose dyskinesia . If my L-dopa level drops during the day for whatever reason ( stress ,tryinmg to do too much etc)I get both end of dose and begging of the next dose running together . The extra stress of this prolonged dyskinesia means I need more L-dopa so I double the amount to get out of the hole . My situation is that I must stay either above or below dyskinesia level . 18 months ago a 125 cap kept me above dyskinesia level for 3 1/2 hours now it is approx 1 1/2 hours and I am falling into the dyskinesia hole more often . So I tried Tasmar ( at the suggestion of my neuro ) . It extended the " on" period above dyskinesia level but made the dyskinesia worse . I persisted believing that this increase in dyskinesia was temporary . What made me stop was that I was becoming seriously bipolar manic . When " on " I was full of great plans that involved organising everyboby else to do my ideas . After the end of dose dyskinesia and " off" ( a hour or so later ) I had doubts even effecting the smallest of ideas . Because I sleep in an " off " state this depression was seriosly affecting my sleep . L-dopa does affect my emotions . I used to refer to it as my happy pill . The worst thing about an Ldopa holiday was not the increase in movement dysfunction but the emotional downturn characterised by an overwelming feeling of dread . I can handle this side effect of L-dopa ,just . I could not handle the emotional side effect of Tasmar . peace Alastair ( [log in to unmask] )