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Ervin, No I took it when it came out in August 1997 but when I got little benefit from it I was switched to Requip about 6 months later. I now am taking 28 mg of Requip per day and may go as high as 35 mg to help me with episodes of painful dystonia until I have my hoped - for STN stimulator Surgery if all goes well in May. Charlie. ERVIN J MCCARTHY wrote: > 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] > >*************************************************************************** > *************** -- ****************************************************************************************** Charles T. Meyer, M.D. Middleton (Madison), Wisconsin [log in to unmask] ******************************************************************************************