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

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