Does anyone else find sinemet makes them sleepy? My hubby's neurologist says it is a very unusual symptom...

[nellie58]

We just had a very deflating appointment with a specialist and even though I insisted that off sinemet that hubby is not sleepy, he said maybe it was narcolepsy.

[nellie58]

He has been given a script for Amantadine...has anyone tried this?

[aspergerian in reply to nellie58]

Amantadine reduced my daytime sleepiness when I was on 3 per day of 25\100. Tried selegiline, didn't help. Am currently using SinemetCR, amantadine, and methylphenidate.

[nellie58 in reply to aspergerian]

How long have you been on Amantadine? Did you have any side effects? How many tablets a day? My husband takes atremorine which extends the life of sinemet for him and allowed him to take a lot less sinemet CR than he used to...(not that the Dr thought it could possibly do this) Apart from this weird sleeping problem he is doing ok...I guess Amantadine is his only option now.

[park_bear]

It is a very unusual symptom, but one thing we have learned here is how variable PD is and everyone is different. Sinemet and most other PD meds are strictly for symptomatic relief, so if it does not help the symptoms don't use it.

Amantadine worth a try, it may help.

[nellie58 in reply to park_bear]

Thanks for reply park_bear. Sinemet after the dose has worn off, leaves him with enough dopamine residue to be ok for the rest of the day. He has tried without and eventually he becomes a zombie and cannot function. Once you start Sinimet you can't really stop it can you?

[park_bear in reply to nellie58]

The immediate release version of Sinemet is an overdose for many / most people. If he is taking that he should try the CR - controlled release version. I find it is vastly better.

Contrary to conventional medical thinking, improvement in PD is possible. See the many posts here on high dose thiamine/B1. Regular exercise is essential. Also there is my personal story of reducing my dose by 2/3:

healthunlocked.com/parkinso...

[Juliegrace]

It's just the opposite for me, it's like speed.

[M1tz1]

It sent my husband into a deep sleep as if anaesthetised. So did Madopar. We couldn't wake him. If I had belonged to this group then, I'd have learned that I should have taken him off them.

[nellie58 in reply to M1tz1]

What would you use instead? Did it happen after long term use? I thought once you start on sinemet you cannot stop...This has happened in the last 5 years for my husband. Sinemet worked fine in the beginning. Was it the same for your husband M1tz1?

[M1tz1]

My husband was diagnosed with PD only two months before his death in January. I think the fact that he had Alzheimer's (he was cured of it) and a long-term sports injury disguised the fact that he had Parkinson's. When the Sinemet and tbe Madopar sent him to sleep he was put on Carbilev, which was a better option for him. He was medicated with Sinemet and Madopar for about 6 weeks and then changed to Carbilev when he was in hospital with pneumonia. He was 80 years of age.

[nellie58 in reply to M1tz1]

Oh...ok mine was diagnosed in 1994 I think and he is now 66. Sinemet worked great for him for many years. Recently it has gone rogue. His brain must be responding differently to it now. Thanks for your answer and I am sorry to hear that your husband has passed.

[M1tz1 in reply to nellie58]

Thank you, nellie58. I hope things go better for your husband.

[4000Nights]

It makes me sleepy for sure and I believe it is a known side effect.