ECD...yes...two neurologists, one a Movement Disorder Specialist, diagnosed Doreen with PD. It took the MDS TWO hours to absolutely confirm the PD dx because Doreen's symptoms were so slight...and, in fact, the MDS termed Doreen's PD as the "garden variety" type, i.e., very ordinary and, in fact, stated that tremor might be her ONLY symptom with the PD...the most difficult to "control", but with the least probable devastating outcome. This, too, was confirmed by her present neurologist who has stated that he has some PD patients who have had PD for many, many years with only a tremor having emerged as their symptom...so, we are hopeful that it will be the same with Doreen. Eventually, she did experience some micrographia and lessened arm swing in her right arm (she had right-handed tremor for many years without its moving to her left hand (which is still minimal). Once she started the Sinemet, both her handwriting and the arm swing returned to normal. It is just recently that her tremor (she is right handed so that having a tremor in her right hand has begun to be more than a nuisance, especially in that she assists an ENT doctor and she feels it's interfering with her work somewhat)...thus, her neurologist attempting to "zero in" on the tremor...first with the Cogentin which certainly did eliminate the tremor, but caused such cognitive problems...and now, the Amantadine.

John...Thank you for a very supportive and helpful message related to Amantadine. Doreen spoke with her neurologist this a.m. and expressed her concern about taking 300 mg. daily (due to the horrendous recent experience we just had with the Cogentin and given the information that we've read that Amantadine CAN cause cognitive impairment, though not to the degree that Cogentin did..still, we are so leery). Although he would prefer to have her increase from the 200 mg. to 300 mg. (for both the dyskinesia(s) AND the tremor), he did not insist on it, but Doreen will speak with him in a week's time when they will discuss, again, the increase to 300 mg. We had been unclear as to his exact reason for prescribing the Amantadine...tremor...dyskinesia(s)...both...and it seems he has prescribed it for BOTH. It certainly has "worked" well for the dyskinesia(s)...absolutely eliminated them...but, at the 200 mg., it doesn't seem to have done too much for the tremor; thus her neurologist's preference for Doreen to take the 300 mg... we'll just see how this goes for this week.

Chris...I, too, am interested in the timing of the Amantadine. At the 200 mg. daily, Doreen's neurologist has prescribed it to be taken with her morning dose of Sinemet...then, with her 4 p.m. dose. I have read that Amantadine CAN cause insomnia so that I have questioned the 4 p.m. dose, although that would be approximately 6 hours before she usually goes to bed.
I would be interested, too, in the dosing at the 300 mg. in the event that we decide to increase to that dosage.

...and so I continue my venture/adventure with the PD "meds". I must say that it certainly has kept my brain very busy...and that's a good thing.

I am so appreciative of all the excellent responses that I have received from the people here. I can't tell you how helpful you have been...and can't thank you enough.

Therese