 |
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 1,213
|
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 1,213
|
Wordy, but good info
Isn't this place just the best? You can go see your neurologist, discuss side effects with your pharmacist, or read up on what you're taking,, but there's no place better for finding the practical answers than here.
None of us give medical advice (I hope). We just tell what has happened through our experiences with PD and then we share it.
Dyskinesia : First of all, it's a well documented side effect, and I have definitely had the same experience of Stalevo causing increased dyskinesia (or increasing what you may already exhibit). So the neuro and I played around with dosing. (and this does NOT happen overnight! It takes a good 2-3 weeks, if not longer, to smooth out the transition problems).
I have a time with pain (which one doctor calls medication-induced dystonia), and I have had two surgeries for cervical fusion (3 levels in my neck). -
I have heard people say they were able to reduce their Sinemet® (carbidopa/levodopa) when they added Stalevo® (entacapone) to their regime. That could possibly be true, because the entacapone added to their Sinemet® is supposed to make it work longer, BUT you should know that Stalevo® is just carbidopa/levodopa and entacapone combined into one pill.
This might not be information that you want or can use, but here are the various dosages of Stalevo:
Stalevo® (carbidopa, levodopa and entacapone) is supplied as tablets in six strengths:
Stalevo® 50, containing 12.5 mg of carbidopa, 50 mg of levodopa and 200 mg of entacapone
Stalevo® 75, containing 18.75 mg of carbidopa, 75 mg of levodopa and 200 mg of entacapone
Stalevo® 100, containing 25 mg of carbidopa, 100 mg of levodopa and 200 mg of entacapone
Stalevo® 125, containing 31.25 mg of carbidopa, 125 mg of levodopa and 200 mg of entacapone
Stalevo® 150, containing 37.5 mg of carbidopa, 150 mg of levodopa and 200 mg of entacapone
Stalevo® 200, containing 50 mg of carbidopa, 200 mg of levodopa, and and 200 mg of entacapone
source: http://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/pr...df/stalevo.pdf
I take the 150 pill 3X daily. The 200 caused horrible dyskinesia, causing me to lose about 50 lbs! (but I was a porker, so that worked out for me).
But my last appointment to a movement disorder specialist, he said it was easier to adjust changes in your meds if you took the Sinemet and Comtan® separately.
So as soon as I use the Stalevo that I have onhand, I'm going to go that way.
Also, you mentioned that you are taking Azilect® .
I tried it, but we didn't mesh. I think it is tolerated (my opinion) when used as monotherapy and not mixed with other drugs. (see below*)
If we knew all of these dangers before we pop those pills, we'd probably never take these chemical-alterin agents for our brain. But we have already started them and unless under close watch by a doctor (like in the hospital) you should never just stop taking any of these medications. Anyhow, if we did we'd all be as rigid as a totem pole and very debilitated.
So here's more info on side effects of which you should be aware:.
*AZILECT® is generally well tolerated. Side effects seen with AZILECT® alone are headache, joint pain, and indigestion. Side effects seen with AZILECT® taken with levodopa are uncontrolled movements (dyskinesias), accidental injury, nausea, weight loss, constipation, low blood pressure when standing, joint pain, vomiting, dry mouth, rash, and sleepiness. Be sure to tell your doctor about these and any other side effects you experience when taking AZILECT®.
http://www.azilect.com
Although recent research has shown enough evidence to allow Teva (makers of Azilect) to remove the warning, foods high in tyramine should be avoided. Here's a link to a "printable card" provided by Teva that you might want to keep on hand:
http://www.azilect.com/tyramine.ashx
Best to you Floridagal! Where in FL are you? If you don't want to say here, leave me a private message.
Peggy
|