Dopamine agonist

[tudorwood]

My wife was diagnosed with pd in Sept last, she has been on madopar 3x 125ml a day, she also ended up in hospital in November with Pneumonia, she had a ct scan 2 weeks ago and saw her consultant for results last week, thankfully her lungs were nearly back to normal, he didn't know she had pd but when she told him he said why aren't you on dopamine agonist, he's not a neurologist, had anyone tried this medication? My wife is 71. Andrew Norfolk uk

[Hikoi]

Andrew,

Agonists can be hard to tolerate and are not quite as popular as they once were. Also neuros weigh up pros and cons according to age. If you are happy with your neuro I would not be concerned about this different approach. You can ask your neuro or the pd nurse for more info on this at the next appointment.

I am on an agonist, made me very sleepy to start.

[tudorwood in reply to Hikoi]

Thanks Hikoi, we'll have a word with my Wife's neuro next time. A

[stevie3]

I'm on an agonist but I was diagnosed when I was 55. I tolerate it well but as has been said, if your wife is happy with the advice and care of her neurologist I'd be guided by them. My GP is the first to admit that he knows very little about PD which is why he has me go to a neurologist!

[Bridielena]

Hello

I have been on Madopar for 11 years. It has been brilliant. Not so anymore but I persevere.

Dose now is Madopar 200 + 50 every 4 hours. It wears off about the 3 hourly time . Some days are quite good others not so...... shuffling, sleepy with lots of pain.....everywhere...... I am still driving, looking after the menial house jobs, studying a course by Long Distance Education as we have come out of retirement and manage a Tourist Resort which entails me getting a special licence ( won't go into what or why) Have 5 modules to do by April 20.

I don't know whats ahead but take each day as it comes. I do have to watch my feet though as I have had falls when turning around quickly. Better to do a 5 point turn. Sweating though is hard to bear.....cold showers and fresh clothes sometimes 3 times a day.

I eat, think, write , the normal things really but when fading of course have to just wait until doseage kicks in. Even then I'm anxious and try to keep going....hanging on to whatever is around me.....then suddenly I'm upright and striding out. I switch on and off very quickly.

Nights are different and even though I sleep about 7 hours and never have to find the bathroom until I wake, I'm so stiff and sore.......back, arms, wrists, and knee, , it takes forever to get to it. Sometimes Dystonia in both feet decides to trip me up but I have chairs at strategic positions, thank goodness, otherwise I'd be on the floor and probably rather wet too.

It's challenging but today found a Naturepath and started on Magnesium stirred into water 3 times daily. It's recommended for easing that nighttime stiffness.....we shall see.

I think I have digressed into an Epistle for you to read but I feel you will " be alright mate".

We will cross The Rubicon yet.

HGE

[isis6361]

There are individual preferences between consultants nurses and teams. Often young onsets are delayed from going onto ldopa to avoid the risks of dyskinesia. There are pwp who don't tolerate loops and others who don't tolerate agonists. There is no wrong or right whether your wife is on either treatment. As long as she has symptom control without too many side effects. What's more important is that she sees a speech and language therapist and under goes a swallow assessment to avoid aspirational neuromuscular happening again.

[Motherfather]

hi tudorwood..well im 70 years old..i think she should be taking madopar tablets 200 mg 50mg cap..3 times a day..also 1 azilect..i find it right for me.but i exercise every day..i hope that helps.also i use a small massage machine..electronic with little pads that stick to the skin and pulses that moves the muscles on what ever part of the body u put the pads..also comes with slippers electronic as well..you can buy them in china very cheap..just go into the internet.

[BUZZ1397]

Others herein are simply more likely to explain "dopamine agonist" is a description of the mechanism of a PD prescription, not a name for a product. But it is seldom that I get a chance to try and explain something pharmaceutical and I think I've got this easy one, so there, I gave it a shot. There are several dopamine agonists, a neurologist that is very familiar with the needs of people with Parkinson's would be helpful for your wife.

[park_bear]

Many people here use dopamine agonists, if it works for them that's great, but the fact is that dopamine agonists are downright dangerous. If madopar or other forms of levodopa are working for your wife then stick with it.