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Hello Charlie. I'm interested in your discussion on Mirapex. I gather if you have been taking Mirapex since it came out, I would guess you have been taking it about two years. Were there any beneficial effects during that period? I have been taking Mirapex for about 2 1/2 months now and don't notice any good effects looking for it to relieve the tremor and fatigue.I am in the midst of trying to make a decision of whether to quit Mirapex. I known I should look to my doctor's decision but I always entertain real experiences. Thank you, [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Charles T. Meyer, M.D. <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Friday, March 12, 1999 7:28 AM Subject: Re: Switching meds--info please? >HI Ann, >I can comment more as a patient than as a physician. Regarding the >switch from Mirapex to Requip, I started Mirapex changing from Parlodel >during a hospitalization when Mirapex was first released. My Neurologist >switched me calculating the equivalent dose of Mirapex rather than disable >me (even more) by phasing one down while increasing the other. The Requip >was started after the Mirapex had reached beyond maximum dose without >substantial (increased) benefit. The requip was better (for me). The >switch was while I was at home and was a sudden change giving me again >equivalent doses of Requip to the Mirapex. As time has progressed either >the Requip has lost its effectiveness or my PD has gotten worse >(unfortunately I think it is the latter). I currently am taking above the >recommended dose and after getting lab work I likely will be increasing >even more. If you can put off the Sinemet that would make sense to me- >however if the Requip doesn't give you substantial reduction of symptoms- >to a level where your life can proceed reasonably normally- I would not >hesitate to add the sinemet. Sinemet can give a response in a few days but >is usually titrated up slowly to give optimum effect. > >Good luck, > >Charlie > >serenityplus wrote: > >> Hi, >> >> I've been in the TEMPO study, which is a drug study for an MAO type B >> inhibitor, much like Selegiline. I've been on open label with the dose >> still blinded; also, I'm taking Mirapex, barely 1.5 mg/day (had some >> dose limiting side effects, like sleepiness, but no orthostatic >> hypotension. I've haven't gotten a good response to Mirapex, and I >> feel, much as I would like to put off Sinemet (I'm 54, diag. a year >> ago, probably had it from about '89) that my symptoms are really >> getting in my way: tremor is essential, not resting, so it's not a >> problem, but the inability to do much with my right hand, and dragging >> my right side is getting to be too much. >> >> I'm concerned that trying another agonist like Requip will take >> forever (My titration experience with Mirapex was VERY LONG) and may >> not do any more, and may cause problems for nothing. I've read that >> it takes weeks or even months to get an adequate response from >> agonists. I've taken Mirapex, albeit in small increasing doses, since >> last Sept. and it hasn't done much. I suppose the PD could be >> outpacing the therapy also. Q: Does Sinemet take long to show a >> response? How tough is it to come off Mirapex (though maybe I >> shouldn't). Any strategies coming to mind on handling starting >> generic carbadopa/levodopa with/without Mirapex? >> >> I would be grateful for any response. Thanks! >> >> Ann > >-- >*************************************************************************** *************** > >Charles T. Meyer, M.D. >Middleton (Madison), Wisconsin >[log in to unmask] >*************************************************************************** ***************