I have never taken illegal drugs in my life. However, now I have PD I am considering taking ecstasy. As I understand it (1) the research from Hopkins University which indicated neurotoxicity was withdrawn because the test monkeys were given crystal meth instead of MDMA and (2) more recent studies suggest no neurotoxicity. There was a BBC documentary many years ago showing a young PD guy initially in a physically bad way and then, after taking ecstasy, doing gymnastic routines (he was a film stuntman). Sure, some people will abuse MDMA just as some people abuse alcohol. But that is not a good reason not to take it. So, do any of you have a 'friend' who has taken ecstasy and, if so, did relieve the symptoms of PD?
MDMA (ecstasy) - has anyone taken it to r... - Cure Parkinson's
MDMA (ecstasy) - has anyone taken it to relieve Parkinson's symptoms.
I doubt very much the my Neuro would prescribe it!!!!
Yes I've taken mdma. I saw the BBC programme and was amazed by what I saw, but at the time I had never taken any illegal drugs and didn't think I would try it for myself. However time passed and the disease continued it's relentless progress and I thought why not? I took it a few times over the course of a few years and it had a totally positive and beneficial effect on my symptoms. The relief I felt was immense. It's not an answer or a treatment, as you couldn't exisit in that altered state of reality, but it was a joy to be able to move freely once again, if only for a few hours.
I have also taken MDMA. Oh god it's absolutely wonderful to be "normal" for a few hours and just RELAX. I use it sparingly, once or twice a month. My wife, who is a doctor, a psychologist, tells me that it missed being legal by a few votes. And that doctor's used it in marriage counseling back in the 60's and 70's. People started abusing it, like using MDMD with alcohol....Stupid! I have had PD for 6 years. I also
Use marijuana every afternoon, right before I take my sinemet. In my case it extends the benefit of Sinement for two hours longer. My Nero and movement specialist all know about this.
I've stumbled across this doing a google search. I appreciate that your post was 4 years ago so you may feel differently now but did you stop taking your other meds when experimenting with mdma?
This is for someone I know and I don't know the meds he is on but not sure whether there would be interference from them.
One more thing . I have stopped drinking alcohol entirely after I was diagnosed. It really screws up my body and PD medications. It really has an adverse affect on me. Alcohol is much more powerful and stronger than I ever realized.
I took MDMA regularly for years before getting PD. Not sure my nervous system could handle it now and anyway I'm on Azilect which can kill me if combined with MDMA. I saw the documentary and even emailed the man in it. He'd just had DBS and sent me a nice reply and then I didn't hear from him again. I went out on Friday to a party. Usually I'm too stiff to dance properly so it's not much fun. This time I smoked some cannabis and all the stiffness went and I danced like a banshee for 3 hours!
Without cannabis I can't sleep more than an hour or 2 at a time and with losing most sense of smell (and therefore taste) I can go days without eating, or barely eating. I can lose weight at the snap of the finger but putting it back on, for me, is as hard as most people find losing weight. I'm seriously contemplating moving to Colorado.