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Dear Ivan and Barbara, It appears that stimulation to the STN does not seem to require additional sinemet as does pallidotomy and stimulation to the Globus Pallidus. Most people who have had the surgery can cut their sinemet by half. A recent presentation in "Brain" confirmed that chronic stimulation to the Sub Thalamic Nucleus can cause a reaction to the sinemet that can result in dystonia, something that has plagued me since the operation. The reason you don't need sinemet is possibly the reason Professor Benabid picked the STN as the site because it certainly relieves the greatest number of symptoms. As with all things in Parkinson's it's not a cure and is not without its side effects. Thank God their few! It is my belief and hope that the recent addition of Mirapex to my drug regime will eventually allow me to phase out the use of sinemet. I'll keep you posted as the titration progresses. I am certainly feeling okay. By the way I've had Pd for 12 years and because of the operation I have managed to keep working. Regards Peter Dawkins