Received this email so will pass it along as requested.
Hello-
in l992 my husband was diagnosed with :Parkinson's.
At that time his only symptom was leg tremors...rather slight. His doctor
prescribed Sinemet. There was almost immediate mental deterioration but no
increase in the tremors. His mental confusion was very noticeable.
When he broke his ribs in a fall and had to refrain from taking sinemet while
taking pain killers, his mind improved considerably. In fact, one of my
daughters commented "It's nice to have Dad back for a while." When
he went back onto the sinemet, the mind once more continued to
deteriorate. When I mentioned this incident to his doctors, it
was dismissed rather readily. One commented, "o that only happens for two
or hree days." but in my husband's case, his mind was clear FOR
THREE WEEKS WHILE ON THE PAIN KILLERS. During the next few years, the
tremors increased and the mind continued to deteriorate. He was often very
confused. Sometimes his comments were just "off the wall." He is, or
rather was, an attorney by the way . It was necessary to resign from his
law practice, not from he physical aspects of Parkinson's, but from the mental
confusion, lack of memory, lack of logic etc. During this time he
was taking six sinemets daily. Because of his mental confusion, the
doctor prescribed Aricept {medication for Alzheimer's} and there was an
almost immediate improvement. ...quite remarkable really.This did not last
more than a few months, however, and he once more reverted to a state of mental
confusion...unable to even know the month, day, or year. Comments were
again "off the wall" Total confusion. When my daughter said "look at
the baby guinea pigs, Dad," he asked "Are they in receivership?"
(this is a legal term relating to bankruptcy.) There are times when
he is unable to even complete a sentence. Meanwhile his tremors
became increasingly dramatic and more constant, both arms and legs.
Usually about a week prior to running out of his sinemet , he pesters me
to get he prescription filled fearful that he is going to run out.
About six weeks ago, when his supply was depleted, he did not mention it so I
decided to see how he would be without the sinemet. Remember up until this
time his tremors were almost constant, arms and legs, and very
dramatic. Within a few days of being off the sinemet,
THE TREMORS STOPPED. THEY JUST STOPPED. I have only observed
tremors, and very slight ones at that, three times in the last six weeks since
he has been off the sinemet. It is worth emphasizing here that at the same
time he stopped taking the sinemet, he also went off he aricept, and his mental
condition deteriorated even more. BUT THE TREMORS HAVE ALL BUT
DISAPPEARED.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE??? At the doctor's
appointment last week, it was suggested he go back on the aricept, but not
the sinemet. This doctor is a Parkinson's specialist, by the
way, highly recommended and highly regarded, but the succession of incidents
described do not seem to have any significance. My
questions: is the sinemet related to my husband's mental
condition? Why did he tremors almost disappear when he stopped
taking the sinemet? It was rather interesting that at last
weeks doctor's appointment, there was an intern present, and when I explained
how the tremors stopped when my husband stopped taking sinemet, his eyes
almost popped out of his head. Is there anyone out there who can help
us?
Regards
Betty Davey
Please pass my request for
information or clarification to anyone who might
be of
assistance. Kindly respond to my son at the following address:
Please respond to
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