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Janet, Bob [Dales' son] seems to agree with you. I am tryin it. BBA. -----Original Message----- From: Dale O. Bowling <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Tuesday, September 22, 1998 9:50 PM Subject: Sinemet Dose >Bruce, >I've been following your posts and responses re Prayer & a Wing. It's a >good thread. There's been lots of meaty stuff tossed around in the related >posts. Much of it will help some of us a little or a lot in fine tuning >our >own drug regimen. > >How about trying your own 6 hour Sinemet dosage test? You said you take one >tab 5 times a day or so. That's about every three hours. The next time >your back begins to bother you, no matter when unless it's within 30 minutes >of a regular dose, take an extra tab. This is an extra, not a change in >schedule. Stick to our regular schedule and consider these "extra's" as >just that. If they make your back feel better I think you're >undermedicated. I'd make a cautious prediction that at the end of the 6 >hour test you will have been taken two extra tabs (you might try an extra >one-half tab some time) and be pleased with how your back felt because you >were "on" more of the time. > >I have a similar back problem and Sinemet fixes mine. Of course the >problem will come back (and is here now) when I'm undermedicated. I just >took an extra 25/100 and am chiding myself because I felt it coming 30 >minutes ago and ignored it. Now it'll take another 30 or more to get back >on. > >I respectfully suggest there is a better method than the one you are using >to determine your Sinemet dose requirements. You are currently taking an >arbitrary amount (in my opinion anyway)--your body didn't tell you how much >it wanted and I know of no medical logic except judgment (also called >guesswork) that can be used to determine dosage needs. I suggest you let >your body make the decision, within reasonable limits of course. > >You know that some quantity of Sinemet makes you feel good for some period >of time. So take a couple of weeks and figure out by experimentation just >how much and how often you need to take Sinemet to feel good almost all the >time (at least 90%). I think Sinemet doses are the most flexible (because I >have more experience with them) so I consider the doses of Tasmar or Mirapex >or whatever else you are taking as givens, i.e., I try not to tamper with >the amount or timing without talking to the neuro. I then structure the >Sinemet doses around them. I think you'll find few docs that will argue >with a dosage when you go for a visit and tell them how good you feel and >how you determined the amount and frequency. > >Please pardon my irreverence for suggesting the above. It works well for >me; may not work so well for others but there seems to be adequate logic in >the method. I think a lot of my neurologist and believe he and others do a >pretty good job. They don't have PD and don't live in my body, though, and >I'm fairly insistent that I should tell them what I think I need in the way >of Sinemet. If my doc disagrees I'll listen carefully and most likely >follow his advice. I have found, however, that in life it's easier to >obtain forgiveness than permission and I apply that philosophy here. Rather >than ask how much to take, I tell him how much I am taking and give him >every opportunity to tell me why it's too much or too little. His advice >thus far, and I follow it, is to try to gradually reduce my reliance on >Sinemet and increase either Tasmar or Mirapex. > >Good luck!! > >By the way, I'm using my Dad's computer for a day or two. His name is Dale >O Bowling and may appear on my email. Sorry for any confusion. > >Bob >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` >Bob Bowling >[log in to unmask] > > > > >