Eyes closing after medication

[Zerachiel]

Hi, it is 18 months since my wife's first visit to a neurologist, initially they suspected Parkinson's or Parkinson's plus; PSP was mentioned quite early on and now her diagnosis is suspected PSP.

Her main symptoms are eyes closing involuntarily (eyelid opening apraxia) and very quite speech (profound hypophonia), there are many other symptoms but I won't list them all.

She is taking 2 drugs, co-benelopa and Amantadine.

We have noticed that within 30 minutes of taking co-benelopa her eyes will close shut and it takes about another 30 minutes for her to be able to open them again (and stay open). Her eyes do close at other times throughout the day but this is a definite pattern of the drug causing the eyes to close.

Has anyone else experienced this?

[Fairygirl13]

Hi Zerachiel,

My Dad also has problems with opening and closing his eyes, although I have not noticed any link to any of his medications. His often seemed worse after meals strangely.

He has a small amount of botox injected which has helped with this - he is able to open his eyes more fully and although his blink is slow he seems able to open his eyes easier rather than staying shut for long periods of time. Maybe ask your neurologist whether this might help in your wife's case.

Best wishes,

Sarah

[Zerachiel in reply to Fairygirl13]

Hi Fairygirl13

My wife is getting the Botox injections, she is due her second lot next week but so far we have not seen an improvement.

Her neurologist has never heard of co-benelopa triggering her eyes to close which is why I thought I'd ask on here.

[rriddle]

I've never heard of medication causing eyes to close. Eyelid apraxia (involuntary closing of eyelids) is common in PSP and similar disorders.

Perhaps the medication makes your wife sleepy? How about giving a placebo and seeing if that "causes" the eyelid apraxia?

[Zerachiel]

Hi, thank you for your replies, the Co-benelopa doesn't make her sleepy just triggers her eyes to close.

If anyone else has noticed L'dopa causing a temporary bout of eyelid apraxia I'd be interested to hear from you.