Can carbidopa/levadopa actually cause tremors?

[Joealt]

[DZehev]

YES, I can answer that!! And the answer is YES and here's the reason: We take carbidopa/levadopa (or Sinemet) to replace the loss of dopamine. We take enough to keep us moving, but it goes into our system like a shotgun blast. It goes where we need/want to go, but also where we do not want it to go. Its like trying to drink from a firehose. Over time, the excess Sinemet starts affecting other areas of the brain which cause...shaking, tremors, and all the side effects we hear about. The longer we take it the worse it gets. And since there is nothing else that works like Sinemet, we have to keep taking it.

Let's face it, its a one way trip. No one gets out of this world alive. Death takes us all in the end. On a good day I try to remember that it is not how long you live, but rather how well you live. For me, even if I don't meet my maker, I still prefer to live a life I can be proud of.

--DZehev

Did you know that when they first came up with using Levadopa to treat Parkinson's disease, the side effects were awful. The drug just barely went through the blood brain barrier and so patients were forced to take large doses in order to get enough dopamine into their systems. The high doses caused severe nausea and patients would throw up after taking it. By adding Leveadopa together with Carbidopa the combined drug more easily passed through the blood brain barrier, and the patients could take less and prevent the nausia. Ok, so here's the joke - Researchers used the latin words to name the improved combination "Sinemet". "Sine" which means "without" and "emet" which means to "throw up". Literally, "WIthout Throw Up". And who said these guys don't have a sense of humor!

[MichaelOM]

Thanks for that info DZ.

[Joealt]

After surfing the Web for two days I've come to the conclusion that it DOES cause tremors, and a few other side effects, but these may also be normal PD symptoms. I'd tell my doctor about this but unfortunately I no longer have any healthcare insurance.