Parkinsons and Medication

[Rosco46]

I have had Parkinson's for 5 years now, I am finding it increasingly difficult to work out the number of Sinimet per day is best, my Neurologist leaves it to me to work out basically. Lately I have this run on that I can't stop when trying just to walk! It also seems to be affecting my cognisant brain function. Any advice or just talking about it might help.

[M_rosew]

Siminet comes in different strengths. You don't say which you have been prescribed, but it seems odd that your Neurologist hasn't specified the dose.

The Siminet leaflet should tell you the minimum gap between tablets. You can increase the maximum gap by waiting for your function to dip. I don't think it's advisable to change doses from day to day. I find even spacing work best for me, taking the first tablet before I get up and the last at bedtime.

Incidently, make sure you have your weight down on your heels before you start to walk. Practice marching to music with a beat (like a toy soldier, heels down first and arms swinging).

[johntPM]

As rosew says, what is your dose, and how many during the day?

Are you on any other drugs for Parkinson's?

Are you at the stage where you can notice "on" and "off" periods?

John

[JohnPepper]

Not being able to stop, while walking, is caused by bad posture. If you are leaning forwards you are out of balance and walking, while out of balance is a recipe for disaster.

No medication will address that problem. You need to take conscious control of your posture and movements. Have a look at my profile and see how I went about dealing with my Pd.

[ddmagee1]

It seems a bit odd that the neurologist wouldn’t prescribe specific dosages of medicines, at specific times, then have you monitor on and off times, in order to see if an increase is needed. Leaving you to more or less choose your own dosage, could lead to a problem, I would think, unless if you are medically trained in neurology to make those kind of decisions. My neurologist insists upon exact dosages, at exact times, and wants to know if and when I have any “ off “ times, in between, when the medicine does not seem to be working. He is the decision maker, not me. In my opinion, it is imperative that you see your doctor and try to get this straightened out. Improperly taking dosages of any kind of medicine, can lead to undesirable effects. Best wishes to you, in getting this problem solved. A movement disorders specialist/ neurologist is best qualified in prescribing dosage times and amounts, concerning PD medicines, in my opinion.

[czimmerman in reply to ddmagee1]

Mine said I have to figure it out for myself.....

[richardo123]

I have been a pd patient for 14 years now. I have never played any games on my own regarding the medication . I always followed the neurologist suggestion to the letter. I am taking entacapone 200ml and 2 levodop/carbidop 100/25 no at 9 -12-3-6. I was having tremor in the foot around 3 recently so on the suggestion of the Neuro i am now taking the doses at 9-12- 3:30-7 . It's seems to be working. If I go off this regimine I have off periods and my motor abilities shut down. I am trying to bike at the gym at least 3 times a week and tango dance lessons once a are. My wife as care giver never gives up on checking up on me during her days at work via texed as to an u being true to my regimine. I don't consider it nagging I need to be made accountable because it is not only about me it's about her and her way of life as well. By the way I put up with quite a few off times lately but not to the point where I give in to the pd. According to my Neuro I am maxed on what I take for medication but i have a card up my sleeve for a bit later. Not sure if it will work but its an all day patch called neupro ritigotine . Hope you have a happy joyous day and a merry Xmas. Sorry for blabbering on. Just hope this may help someone in the pd world. Many blessings.

[ddmagee1 in reply to richardo123]

Off times can be difficult. I have heard of the patch helping, so it wouldn’t hurt to talk to your doctor about that and the off periods that you experience. I would think that yours and the specialists goal would be to keep you relatively even, and not have much, in the way of off times, when the medicine wore off, and troublesome symptoms returned.

[Bailey_Texas in reply to richardo123]

You are not maxed out on your meds. I take 2 6 mg Requip 24 hour release in the morning and 1 50/200 er C/L and 3 25/100 C/L every 4 hours 24/7 and some times a take more if need be. I have some side effects at night when things are slowing down be not bad enough to take less meds. For me i increased my meds to the point that i could not handle the side effects and i avoid that amount. I am 12 years diagnosed and 25 years with symptoms and most times you can not tell i have PD My doctor tell's me i have a light case of PD if there is any such thing it does not feel light to me.

[sheshe7755 in reply to richardo123]

My hubby takes Entacapone 4 times a day and his levodopa/carbidop 5 times a day...I feel that he should be taking the entacapone alongside all his L/D meds. He also takes 1 Asilect on waking.

[czimmerman]

I take about 12 Sinemet a day, even during the night. I have no choice or i can't sleeep.

[ddmagee1 in reply to czimmerman]

12 seems like a lot, but I’m not a qualified medical professional, so I won’t comment any further on that.

[Bailey_Texas in reply to ddmagee1]

i take 18 25/100 and 6 50/200 a day along with 2 6 mg Requip 24 hour release and have taken more with very little problems.