Since there are so many posts about sleep problems I'm adding this suggestion from my neuro when I complained recently about not moving when I sleep. He said I should increase my dose of Sinamet at night and if I wake in the middle of the night I could take one pramipexole . He said the inability to move at night is due to lack of dopamine during the night.
Sorry I don't have anything to report about how it works. I must remember to put water and a tablet by my bed tonight and give that extra tab a try. I'll let you know.
Written by
Joanne_Joyce
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I take a regular dose at bed time and one in the middle of the night on the same 4 hour schedule and do great. i wake up in the morning and my hands are a little stiff but i feel good.
I had been waking up with stiffness for many years and also had undiagnosed PD for many years - dunno which started first. Anyway, I have a yoga routine I do for ~20 minutes very first thing upon awakening which helps a lot. I also concur with measures to makes sure you are adequately medicated at night. Time release C/L works for me.
If not sleep 7 to 8 hours at night i am wondering if the medisin (sinemeth) isnt working properly.
This in addition to be tired.
I manage to sleep 6-8 hours no and this is a must to have a good day.
But this is after a lot of small adjustments.
Thinking back it was a nightmare before.
What i did?
stopped taking dopamin agonist
If you use NEUPRO pads , take them off when going to bed and put on new in the morning.
(consult your doctor before doing this)
The effekt is enormus for some off us.
I did discover this phenom one morning.I felt like a new person and i looked at the clock , slept for 8 hours??????
Going to the bathroom i discover that the Neupro pad had fallen off the skin.
After this event i tried many times to keep the pad on one night and off the next night and it was heaven and hell... the effect for some off us is dramatic .
to see what group you belong to you might arrange an accident where the pad fell off the skin when you go to bed (this might happen :))
The effect is dramatic with very good sleep if it works for you.
I spoke with my doctor about it and he was not happy about it but the next visit 6 mounts later they had adopted the idea and start doing the same
Is your problem just lack of movement during sleep or do you experience a resulting stiffness and other discomfort in feet and lower limbs as a result ?. I have found that 5 or 10 minutes of exercising feet and legs, while still in bed in the morning, makes arising much easier and less painful. It also seems to lessen problems with lower body circulation.
Thanks for the suggestion goodles. Unfortunately, as soon as simply stretch my legs I get such bad leg cramps that I have to immediately put my legs on the floor and pull up my toes to get relief. Having said that, for two days now I have started increasing my night meds and taking a pramipexole in the middle of the night. That has definitely helped as I haven't experienced the leg pain I had been having from lack of movement. So maybe now I can also try your suggstion. I'll let you know.
Jo, I'm sure you have already tried most of the home remedies and exercises but I find that sometimes we forget to pay attention to simple things like checking for dehydration or, on the flip side, retention of fluids. Like others I have also found that taking carbi/levadopa, the extended version, at night, helps smooth out the transition from night into day.
try taking a tray for a cup of tea before you get up in the morning i think dehydration plays a big part in feeling stiff in the morning20 mins having a cup of tea before you get dressed helped me a lot i am reluctant to keep taking more medication
Hello Joanne Joyce. I have this problem of not moving when in bed, when I wake in the middle of the night I feel like a block of lead, especially my legs and it takes several minutes (seems like hours) before I can get them to wiggle and progressively moving. Very frustrating especially as the reason I want to move lies in my bladder.
I agree with your neuro that the problem comes from lack of L-dopa at night.
I have only decided a few days ago to take extra Modopar through the night and am experimenting to find the best medication to take and when (Modapar slow release, Modopar dispersible, or Modopar normal, all are 100/25). Too soon to have found the right dose and time.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
More Sinemet, Comtan Needed At Night Than Day
Hospital disaster! My husband has PD and Alz. He had heart pain in the middle of the night, went to ER, had a heart attack, was admitted.
Is late night snacking a symptom of PD or something else? Is it a concern? + Need stability for insomnia
Parkinson’s and night time bladder problems 
