Artane for Dyskinesia

[ladyaudree]

I have been taking Amantadine but it is not very effective for the severe dyskinesia I have been experiencing every morning. Someone in the forum mentioned Artane. Can you please tell me something about your experience with it?

[park_bear]

If you are taking an immediate release form of levodopa that may be the cause. For details see here: healthunlocked.com/parkinso...

[Hikoi]

Artane isn't for dyskinesia it is for tremor. It can have cognitive side effects. When do you get the dyskenesia? Is it connected to your lev/carb intake?

[Despe]

Stay away from Artane! Hikoi is right.

[Husbandsupporter in reply to Despe]

May I ask why you're so emphatic about not taking Artane? I'd appreciate your reasons. I understand it acts like benadryl in the body with those effects but you refer to cognitive issues. Such as?

[Despe in reply to Husbandsupporter]

Not my advice, Mayo MDS was negative about it. It causes memory problems.

[Idofotos]

Theraworx helped me with cramping in my toes I still take amantadine have never used Artane

[canuckchief]

I am still taking amantadine but not sure of what it is to accomplish, It causes swelling in my feet and I have reduced my intake fro 3 a day to 1 a day. My nerologist does not seem to know what to do about the swelling

[Kdsea]

I've been taking Artane for 6 wks. My tremor has decreased by 60% and I feel more like my old self again. But I will say...I am on 1mg x twice a day and take Sifrol ER at night ..only .750mg.C/L made my symptoms worse and effected my walking. Neuro says it looks like PD but because of my reaction to C/L it mustn't be .

What a strange syndrome/disease this thing is!

[Husbandsupporter in reply to Kdsea]

I would strongly urge you to press your Neurologist to test you for PD. I say this from experience with my husband. His body's reaction to CD/LD is such that he can only take 1 25/100 at any dosage time. Otherwise Dyskensia sets in. He's definitely been diagnosed with PD, but his "system" can't tolerate any higher dose. Artane may be started for the tremors, that become more pronounced with the lower dose of CD/LD.

Take good care of yourself and gracefully challenge your Dr to work with you.

Let us know.

[Kdsea in reply to Husbandsupporter]

Thank you.I was tested 4 years ago with a DAT scan but was inconclusive .

Do you think I should suggest another one?

[Husbandsupporter in reply to Kdsea]

I would agree with your suggestion that after 4 years and it being inconclusive, a retest might prove a clear diagnosis. On the other hand, Parkinsons is one type of Parkinsonism, and Datscan's wouldn't reveal if you had a form of Parkinsonism.

Is your Neurologist familiar enough with Parkinson's, or as so many, some Dr's have limited experience with this disease to go beyond the "normal" meds and reactions. (We've been with a Dr just like this but was smart enough to know when his expertise had run out and referred my husband).

There are patients who have limited tolerance for Sinemet and dosage, such as yourself.

You'll hear from some that the radiation one gets from the Datscan could have negative effect on the dopamine supply and neurons in the brain. It is a nuclear test. I only say that not to scare you but to give you information to use to ask before you have another test. As a former xray tech I will tell you the amount of x-rays is not dangerous, but for your peace of mind? You might want to call the Parkinson's Foundation, the Davis Phinney Foundation, or the Michael J Fox Foundation to hear their "take" on danger of a Datscan.

To finish the "rambling" I'll ask: are you keeping a daily journal of symptoms/ times of meds/ reactions/ times of eating and general foods descriptions/ time devoted to exercise/ sleep ?

Since Parkinson's affects the entire body being a specific as you can with specific details for your Dr will allow you to get the most out of your appointment.

Sorry to go on and on.

Let us all know how things go for you.

Take good care