Is there withdrawal from not taking the medicines?

[kaypeeoh]

I've been on ropinirole, amantadine, mybetriq and atorvastatin for a few months. Yesterday I didn't take anything. During the evening I developed a miserable headache that kept me up much of the night. Woke up with it but Tylenol helped. Is withdrawal an effect of not taking the medicines?

[Enidah]

That sounds pretty darned extreme. I don't know why you would drop them all like that but that's seldom a good idea.

[lenamm]

Yes you can get massive withdrawal from stopping meds suddenly. I ended up in ER twice and that was only stopping 200mg a day Sinemet.

[Hidden in reply to lenamm]

I dropped my bedtime dose, 200mg ER. No difficulty. Must be luck or just “everyone is different.” I am sorry to have said that.)

[lenamm in reply to Hidden]

I've always been super sensitive so I tend to get worse reactions than most. Right now I bounce between 200mg and 300mg of Sinemet ER a day and that variation is dose is fine. But my worst side is now healed from FUS surgery so symptoms are just on what was my better side.

[glenandgerry in reply to lenamm]

Wow, fantastic that your worst side is now healed due to the FUS surgery. Where (& when) did you have that done?

[lenamm in reply to glenandgerry]

Sonimodul in Switzerland April 2019

[andrehypnotic in reply to Hidden]

Brother,Is Sinnemet and L- Dopa the same?

[Hidden in reply to andrehypnotic]

Yes

[park_bear]

Each medication is different. I do not know about the others but dopamine agonists – ropinirole – should be tapered instead of quit cold turkey.

[kaypeeoh in reply to park_bear]

Thanks for the replies. I'm still not certain I have PD. I don't get 'off' periods. I have a dominant hand tremor and micrographia. Lately my balance has been a bit off. Otherwise no signs.

[Juliegrace in reply to kaypeeoh]

Were you diagnosed by a neurologist or MDS? Who prescribes your meds? I'm 11 years in but did not have off periods for the first several years.

[glenandgerry in reply to kaypeeoh]

My husband was diagnosed 15 years ago. Up until 2 years ago, he was like you ie didn't have off periods, had dominant right hand tremor (now has tremor in both hands), micrographia, balance a bit off & could go all day without meds.

However things changed 2 years ago when he developed severe pain for which there doesn't seem to be a 'cure'. He has tried many things for his pain (including a spinal op), all without much success. He is now just managing the pain but does seem more reliant on the sinemet.

[andrehypnotic in reply to kaypeeoh]

I am worried 😩 re your balance issues?

[marmaduke123]

I would advice not to stop ropinerole. Not sure what strength you are taking but my neurologist wanted to wean me off ropinerole and onto stalevo. By the 4 th day of weaning I couldnt stick it any more I started to get it the “fidgety legs” which wouldn’t let me sleep or sit easy. In the end my husband had to walk with me in the early hours of the morning around the streets. I went to A and E and begged them to put me back on ropinerole. Lucky for me there was a neurologist on duty and he gave me a prescription for 2 mg which was a great relief. Now I’m on 10mg and doing ok. But be very careful it’s horrendous. I’m 15 years diagnosed but only started to experience down times in the last ten of those.

[kaypeeoh]

The first night was bad because of headache. The second day just a mild headache and today no headache. The ropinirole and amantadine make me tired, just not as bad as the Sinemet did. Since getting sick I've put on nearly 30 pounds. I used to be a distance runner. Averaging 50 miles per week kept my weight down. Without the exercise I can't keep the weight down, I stopped meds just to see whether I can regain the running habit. Mybetriq improves bladder control from enlarged prostate. Atorvastatin is for cholesterol control like Lipitor. So I've got multiple problems typical for my age, 64. Maybe age but maybe the meds, I don't have the drive I used to. I quit the caffeine habit a few weeks ago; Maybe that's a factor. But if stopping the PD meds doesn't worsen the condition I need to see whether I can get along without them. Plenty of guys my age are still running marathons and ultras.

Thanks for the help,

kevin