Should I start pramipexole???

I am on Rasagiline and Amantadine but neither seem to help my tremors. My neurologist wants to add pramipexole to the mix but I read about all the side effects like compulsive behavior and the inability to stop taking it due to serious withdrawal. What do you recommend dear friends?

[park_bear]

The idea that levodopa accelerates the arrival of levodopa -induced dyskinesia has been disproven. Late–stage patients in Ghana who did not have access to levodopa were just as vulnerable to dyskinesias as patients who had been taking levodopa for a long time. See here: academic.oup.com/brain/arti...

I suffered disabling orthostatic hypotension as result of taking a dopamine agonist. Fortunately I recovered after quitting. I take the generic for Sinemet CR - carbidopa levodopa ER. See my writing here for the difference between the immediate release and time release versions:

healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

[Hidden in reply to park_bear]

Does C/L help with bradykinesia and gait too?

[park_bear in reply to Hidden]

It does help with my gait impairment. I do not suffer from bradykinesia so I cannot give a personal report on that.

[laglag in reply to Hidden]

Yes it does help with both,

[WinnieThePoo]

I have had no issues with compulsive behaviour on pramipexole and had no problems stopping cold turkey. I think it gives me a cough and shortage of breath and that is why I'm going to ask to try something else

[Astra7]

I started it a few months ago. It’s meant to help my freezing problem but doesn’t seem to do much for that. I have been able to reduce my meds a small amount, and I’ve had no change in behaviour really. Perhaps a tad less inhibited.

I did have very low blood pressure a few times which my neurologist said was unrelated. He suggested 400ml cold water would help with that and I’ve had no problems since then.

[park_bear in reply to Astra7]

It IS related. If it recurs consider tapering off.

See here for list of references:

healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

[Missy0202]

Sinemet 25/100 really controls my tremor

[Nivrac77]

I’ve had no significant side effects in the area of impulsivity and I’ve been taking it (pramipexole) for 5 years. My movement disorder specialist had me take it after I had poor reactions to Amantadine and Rasagiline which originally was not prescribed by my MD specialist , but a general neurologist.

[Hidden in reply to Nivrac77]

Did pramipexole help you with tremors?

[Jebbie12]

I have had no impulsive side affects from the pramipexole. I’ve been on it 9 years. I’m curious if you are seeing a movement disorder specialist. If not, Go! They have much more knowledge then a regular neurologist. Additionally, I. may be wrong, but I thought amantadine was for dyskinesia.

[Jeaner73]

Diagnosed in 2011 I started taking Mirapex/pramipexole in 2015. I started with .75 mg now 1.5 mg. In 2018 I started Sinemet 25/100. I haven’t had any tremor or compulsive behaviors, but I have thought about weaning off of pramipexole because the things I’ve read here.

[pmmargo]

I don't have a lot of tremor, but I'm on it (2.25 mg). You need to watch carefully for compulsions (sex, gambling, spending, eating, hobbies). Lately I have really been getting a lot into electronics projects. Pram seemed to help with balance and taste. Before I started with it everything tasted only salty. There is a reason they call it MIRApex. The MIRA is for MIRACLE. I hope it is MIRAculous for you.

🐇 🐇 🐇 🐇🐇 🐇 🐇 🐇 🐇 🐇 🐇 🐇

[DachshundFan]

My neurologist started me on generic Sinemet and Pram when I was first diagnosed.

I gained thirty pounds in the first few months. We stopped the Pram, I lost the weight and didn't see a change in my symptoms.

Everyone is different!

[Waldo1975]

I had to get off of it. I was cleaning out the refrigerator in the middle of the night and didn’t realize I was I was consuming more calories in the night than I was in the during the day. I learn how dangerous it is on a PD Facebook page. Some of those folks got into gambling and sex. Getting fat was bad enough, but I’ve taken off the weight.

My restless legs can still be a problem. I take an extra anxiety pill that I am allowed, but rarely take. It usually helps.

I will never take another prescription without researching the side effects of a drug.

[Janx]

I am in the same position and have just started pramipexole a half a tablet once a day for 2 weeks then increasing it to 1 tablet and if tolerated increase to 2 or 3. My tremor is really bad and finding it hard. I am on 100/25 Sinemet 3 times a day and 1 amantadine. I am struggling as after 2.5 hours I get wobbly/ dyskinesia's and find it very hard. I was hesitant to start the pramipexole but the tremor is wearing me out. Hopefully it will help ... the drugs make me fell awful.