Rytary

[Beckey]

How's it working out for you? I started it 3 months ago. My kids have noticed a change for the worse: mania, anxiety, spasmodic movements.

[park_bear]

I recall in past years you had mentioned levodopa was not helping. Has any levodopa preparation ever done anything for you?

[Beckey in reply to park_bear]

No!

Always good to hear from you, Bear.

[park_bear in reply to Beckey]

Always good to chat with you, Beckey!

I continue to question the Parkinson's diagnosis. Let me make my case:

• Levodopa no help

• Nilotinib no help

• Taking two psychotropic meds that can cause tremors (when last I knew)

• Tremor is main symptom(?)

[Beckey in reply to park_bear]

Yes!

[park_bear in reply to Beckey]

I would suggest trying to taper your psych meds, first one and then the other. It would be best to have a supportive M.D. on board for this effort.

[felixned]

Beckey, I have been taking Rytary for more than a year and it works for me fine with the only drawback I can mention pretty annoying dyskinesia. Rytary is a formulation of c/l dopa that suppose to provide longer and more even action. I think that they added asidic component that make l-dopa absorption better. At the same time I have to take twice as much if it 185mg rytary is equivalent to 100 mg Sinemet (.5 or .6 coefficient). I agree with park_bear l-dopa not helping is very worrisome. What is the highest dose of l-dopa you ever had?

[Beckey in reply to felixned]

I've been taking Rytary 23.75-95 mg, 2 capsules four times a day. The dr. just switched me to 36.25-145 mg, 1 capsule four times a day.

[Beckey in reply to Beckey]

That dyskinesia drives me insane!

[felixned in reply to Beckey]

Did the first dose improve your PD symptoms? Does the second one help? Is dyskinesia less with the second prescription?

[Kevin51 in reply to Beckey]

Rytary contains both immediate release and controlled release LDopa. The immediate release is worse for inducing dyskinesia (abnormal involuntary movement). So increasing the dose would be bound to make your dyskinesia worse. I was prescribed separate immediate release and extended release Sinimet tablets and when I developed dyskinesia it helped to simply stop the immediate release tablets. (My tremor worsened confirming PD). You can't cut out the immediate release with Rytary so maybe talk to your MD about trying out straight extended release Sinimet to see if that helps reduce dyskinesia. Ldopa does not cure anything so its really your choice how you use it.

[Beckey in reply to Kevin51]

My doc lowered the dose a bit and it made a huge difference!