Peripexole

[Anthonyian]

Hi can any one tell me how long it takes to be weened off peripexole I am on 1.83mg and I don't think it is doing anything for me thankyou.

[martinn1962]

Hi do you mean pramipexole not heard of peripexole

[Anthonyian in reply to martinn1962]

Hi sorry for spelling mistake it is pramipexole.

[Pete-1]

I remember somebody saying in this forum how much to reduce each dose by and roughly how long on each dose. Unfortunately I can't remember who. You'll have to do some searching. Generally though if you have only been taking Pramipexole for a short time and with a small dose, then to wean off slowly is less important.

I remember it took quite a while (i.e. a number of months) to realise any benefit from pramipexole. What I found was I regained a degree of fine motor control / co-ordination. The finger and thumb tapping that your neurologist gets you to do was vastly improved and strangely, I'd started to get quite bad dandruff and after taking the Pramipexole that symptom cleared.

I think it would be quite a good idea to stop taking Pramipexole (very slowly - look up NMS) because this is one of those Dopamine agonists that are known for encouraging compulsive behaviour AND it is very unpleasant undergoing the withdrawal especially if you have RLS as a symptom of PD. Look up in HealthUnlocked for DAWS. Pramipexole is also used mostly successfuly, to treat RLS. If used for RLS only much lower doses are used. Anyway generally, the longer you take it the worse the withdrawal.

So if on more thorough consideration you can see some benefits of Pramipexole then it is your job to decide how everything goes together for maximum effect. But do look up DAWS and check recent posts for a story of going cold turkey with Pramipexole. One post was particularly unpleasant with regular blackouts and other things.

Anthony, please can you report your results of whatever happens to this forum. Thanks and good luck.

[Anthonyian in reply to Pete-1]

Hi Pete thanks for your reply I will let you no how I go when I have decided what to do after I have discussed been weened off it with parkinson nurse next week.

[Anthonyian in reply to Pete-1]

Hi Pete I had app mon with my parkinson nurse and I asked if I could be weened of premipexole she advised me against it,she as put me on 2weeks trial of stalivo 75mg 5 times a day instead of125mg madapar 4 times a day my premipexole 1.83mg and my slow release madapar 125mg stays the same, after seeing her I wished I had her why she advised me to stay on premipexole as when I have taken it I don't feel it does anything for me. Thankyou

[Pete-1 in reply to Anthonyian]

The following paragraph is taken from

drugs.com/pro/stalevo.html

Stalevo 75 film-coated tablets containing 18.75 mg of carbidopa, 75 mg of levodopa and 200 mg of entacapone. The oval-shaped tablets are light brownish red, unscored and embossed with code "LCE 75" on one side.

So that is 25 mg per day less of Levodopa.

She has probably left you on Pramipexole because it takes a while before any effect may be noticed and so she perhaps feels that you haven't given it a fair try yet. Is 1.83mg your dose for a hole day?

[Anthonyian in reply to Pete-1]

Hi Pete thanks for your reply I take 1.57 9am premipexole and 0.26 9pm

[Pete-1 in reply to Anthonyian]

That's about half of what my PD nurse allows for a maximum dose. I used to take 4.24mg per day. Now I'm not so sure as I have been given one of these controlled release versions.

[Pete-1 in reply to Anthonyian]

The following paragraph is taken from

drugs.com/pro/stalevo.html

Stalevo 75 film-coated tablets containing 18.75 mg of carbidopa, 75 mg of levodopa and 200 mg of entacapone. The oval-shaped tablets are light brownish red, unscored and embossed with code "LCE 75" on one side.

So that is 25 mg per day less of Levodopa.

She has probably left you on Pramipexole because it takes a while before any effect may be noticed and so she perhaps feels that you haven't given it a fair try yet. Is 1.83mg your dose for a hole day?

[soup]

This would seem a very small dose. Are you at that stage on the way up to an effective dose or are you on your way down from a dose which caused side effects?

[Anthonyian in reply to soup]

Hi Soup I was taking 1.57 then it was increased no 0.26 but I do not feel any improvement but I am worried about side effects of coming off it thanks for your reply.

[soup in reply to Anthonyian]

Have you had any side effects or are you just worried about them? Not everybody gets the high profile OCD behaviour changes but of course the decision is all yours.

If you are not getting any symptomatic relief from the dopamine agonist it could be because you are not at the effective-for-you dose yet. Your Parkinson's nurse will be able to tell you what she/he was expecting to see and at which dose this begins to happen for most people.

Really the best person to speak to about coming off the Dopamine Agonist would be your Parkinson's nurse. Have you contacted her/him yet? They will not pass judgement on your decision so don't be concerned about that.

If you had been prescribed Pramipexole as a first line attack on controlling your symptoms don't worry, there are many other ways you can be helped. If it was for smoothing out your off and on times he or she will be able to discuss alternatives too.

The Parkinson's UK helpline nurse is also a good resource to discuss this sort of query too.

[Anthonyian in reply to soup]

Hi soup thanks for your good advice I am seeing my parkinson nurse next Monday kind regards.

[isis6361]

Is this mirapexin or pramipexole ? If so stick with it and be patient. If not slowly wean it down but be aware of mood changes when you do

[Anthonyian in reply to isis6361]

Hi isis6361 thanks for your reply.

[Anthonyian]

Sorry it is mirapexin.

[Pete-1 in reply to Anthonyian]

Mirapex, Mirapexin, Pramipexole and Sifrol are al the same thing.

[Annie81963]

I currently take 1.5 mg twice daily along with carbodopa levodopa 25/100 mg with minimal side effects. Been on pramipexole for 4 years and carbo/levodopa 2years. It took about 4-6 weeks to feel the benifits, I started 1/2 the dosage and gradually worked up the mg.

[Anthonyian in reply to Annie81963]

Hi Annie81963 I have had a lot of nightmares and a lot of snoring my husband says he can hear me when he is downstairs also I get short of breath and when meds have kicked in I race doing things.It caused me to fall twice.thanks for your reply .I take 1.57 am pm0.26pm and madapar 125mg 4 times a day and 125mg slow release madapar at bedtime.

[muragod]

i also suffered side effects on urination but no improvement after taking for a year.Sopeed now

[muragod in reply to muragod]

it is stopped now

[muragod]

i also suffered side effects on urination but no improvement after taking for a year.Sopeed now

[JohnPepper]

Hi Anthonyian. My advice to everybody is, "If medication does nothing positive for you, then stop taking it". No Pd medication has any affect on the progression of Pd. That means that whether you take it or not, the Pd will continue to progress at the same pace. Having said that, it is possible that MAO-b inhibitors, (Azilect, Eldepryl & Parkilyne) can slow down the progression, but this has not been proven beyond all doubt.) I took Eldeprtl for ten years, at which time my symptoms had improved so much that I was able to come off it in 2002. Since then, I have not needed to take any Pd medication. That was not solely due to the medication but to the exercise and the management of stress levels that I did, and continue to do. For more information, go to reverseparkinsons.net.

Don't just stop taking the medication, although that is what I did. I would seek advice from a third party, not involved with your medication or treatment.

John