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Dear Linda, I think a PD specialist would agree that both confusion and depression are possible with PD. However, there is another possibility. Both Paxil and lorazepam should be used with caution in older adults. Either one separately, and certainly both together, can cause confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, tremor, and withdrawal. Additional possible side effects from Paxil include agitation, anorexia, insomnia, orthostatic hypotension and anxiety. Lorazepam can lead to ataxia, (problems with movement), depression, nightmares, fatigue, and other possible side effects. It may be that your mother does not tolerate one or both of these medications well. As you say she has progressed rapidly since October, it's possible her medications could be having an additive effect, causing some worsening of symptoms. Could you ask her physician to look into this possibility? Perhaps the medications could be adjusted or changed. My very best regards to you and your mother, Kathrynne Linda McMurray wrote: > > I am a caregiver for Dorothy, 69, who has had parkinsons for seven > years. Since October, her parkinsons has progressed rather rapidly. We > do have an appointment with a specialist in January. However, this past > two weeks, she has been having repeated hallucinations and has been very > depressed and confused. Her family doctor insists these are not > parkinsons symptoms and wants to refer her to a psychiatrist. I've > noticed two other posts to this list citing similar problems, but no > details. Are these related to parkinsons or not and are electric shock > treatments options to be considered - the only options? (She is > currently on Paxil and Lorazapam.) -- Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD "Nutrition you can live with!" Medical nutrition therapy http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/ Tel: 970-493-6532 // Fax: 970-493-6538 "If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?" -Albert Einstein