Neupro and carbidopa/levadopa

[larry1945]

Diagnosed 2011. Recently my neurologist put me on neupro patch. 2 mg, then 4, just moved up to 6. Carbidopa/levadopa 50/200 CR 3 times a day. I still have to take 3 or 4 carbidopa /levodopa 25/100 a day and I still feel bad a good part of the day. Any suggestions?

[PDWife60]

My husband, who has PD, suggests you talk to your neurologist about increasing your carbidopa /levodopa 25/100. I am not the most knowledgeable person to respond, but maybe this will give you a place to start. I wish you much luck with your transition.

[S70AWD]

If you are like me at all, it's the carbidopa/levodopa making you feel lousy all day. Do you think it's effective? Maybe you could try something else.

[johntPM]

My starting point would be to assume that just 6 years after diagnosis a PwP, without other medical problems, on the right medication should feel good most of the time. To find the correct dose for you requires a certain amount of trial and error and all changes should be made slowly (titration). Your doctor should be organizing this in a timely manner.

You say that you feel "bad". The way forward depends on whether the "bad" is nausea, stiff and slow, tremor, depressed, dyskinesia or something else.

If you're dealing with the classic "off" symptoms of slowness and stiffness, you need to make sure that your regimen has a high enough total power. See:

parkinsonsmeasurement.org/t...

Unfortunately the levodopa based drugs don't last very long. (The half life of levodopa is about 90 minutes.) So you need to ensure that the total drug effect is fairly stable during the day. This may involve retiming your existing doses or taking more but smaller doses. See:

parkinsonsmeasurement.org/t...

Next you need to look at your diet. Eating protein close to taking your meds slows and reduces the absorption of the levodopa. The same can happen with constipation and dehydration.

Finally, you'll probably feel better if you exercise.

John

[Isthistheone]

First off we all are different with PD. What works for me might not work for you. That said, when I'm feeling lousy, it's almost always due to lack of medication carbidopa/levodopa. I used to take oral dissolving​ tablets (ODT), now take extended release (ER) 50/200, one tablet every three hours, 6 X per day. I also take one half tab ODT 25/100 with each ER.

I try to have some apple sauce or a slice of toast at each dosing. Avoid large meals and definitely all proteins within an hour of dosing. I also take selegiline, 5mg, two times daily, as well as Amantadine 100mg two times daily.

I'm in my 8th year post diagnosis 66 yrs young. Still driving, but I know that is coming to an end soon. My only other concern is low blood pressure, caused by PD meds.

Hope this helps. Staying active is very important. I believe good exercise is also good medicine.

Stay active and keep moving!

[HILLARYB]

anyone with messages under a month?

I AM SINGLE AND AM ALONE. getting up at 3 to go the bathroom is frightening. Silly isn't it? at 67!I just can not deal with my past friends who would say you will feel better if....or I know how you feel!I do not know them or me it seems. Yesterday a 90 yr. old pal told me that I am making myself sick. YEA! I said, Have a nice life. It is hard, be that as it may be, therapy was too. Life is not for wimps.

Do not let people tell you how to feel, just feel.