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Joe, I agree entirely about the PDR. It has to be taken with a large grain of salt regarding the reports of side effects. When I was in practice I could find symptoms which patients complained of in the PDR that did not appear drug related while other times I would not find things that appeared drug related.(They would decrease dose and symptoms would decrease as well). Often symptoms are listed on a theoretical rather than experiential basis, Charlie ----- Original Message ----- From: J. R. Bruman <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 1999 12:42 AM Subject: Re: Dystonia versus Rigidity/respoonse to Brian > Phil E.Gesotti wrote: > > > > Dennis Greene wrote: > > In fact I'm convinced that I read in some authorative > > source > > >that Permax lists dystonia as one of its side effects. I have been > > unable > > to find the reference however so throw it in here for what it is w > > I would like to see this reference if you come across it since I was > > prescribed Permax supposedly for dystonia. > > The Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR) description of each approved drug > is supposed to include *all* reports of adverse effects. In controlled > trials for the FDA of Permax, 11.6% of recipients reported dystonia > (4th highest among the neurological effects)- but then 8% of those > getting placebo also reported it, an insignificant difference. Go > figure. My point is that reports from individual patients, as well as > their doctors scattered far and wide, and who perhaps are not even > neurologists, should be taken with a grain of salt (non-prescription). > They may not mean what you think they do. > There may well be a common misconception about what is meant by > "dystonia". I was puzzled to see in the authoritative Merck article > an allusion to *movement* in dystonia, and more so when Ida Kampuis > of this forum found a similar remark by an eminent specialist. But > careful reading will reassure you that movement is *not* a major > feature of dystonia. No doubt some quibblers may object, but I think > it's more productive to keep "dystonia" distinct from "dyskinesia". > Dystonia has other causes than only PD, but in PD dyskinesia, the > difference will help people understand what you're talking about. > Cheers, > Joe > -- > J. R. Bruman (818) 789-3694 > 3527 Cody Road > Sherman Oaks, CA 91403-5013 >