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In Remembrance
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,772
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In Remembrance
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,772
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What if it is not the dopamine?
I know that this is a little absurd at first glance, but what if Sinemet and maybe even the agonists are not easing symptoms for the reasons everyone assumes but for another reason altogether.
I got to wondering about this when I came across a study which showed a dramatic temporary drop in cortisol when one takes Ldopa. Other studies show that PWP have high cortisol levels, so a drop might be welcome news while it lasted. And we all know that when the change is in the other direction, all hell breaks loose. Does it seem unreasonable that a drop would improve function?
Another thing I have wonderred about is that I can crawl to bed completely shot. The last med several hours in my past and the next one hours in my future. Yet, if I wake up in the night, I'm not surprised to find that I am in pretty good shape. And the degree of improvement is related to when I wake up, 1:00 AM is different than 5:00 AM. But if I stay up then it isn't long before symptoms start. I have used up the dopamine that accumulated while I slept. Or had I? What if the explanation was that my cortisol levels rose instead?
Worth a thought....
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Born in 1953, 1st symptoms and misdiagnosed as essential tremor in 1992. Dx with PD in 2000.
Currently (2011) taking 200/50 Sinemet CR 8 times a day + 10/100 Sinemet 3 times a day. Functional 90% of waking day but fragile. Failure at exercise but still trying. Constantly experimenting. Beta blocker and ACE inhibitor at present. Currently (01/2013) taking ldopa/carbadopa 200/50 CR six times a day + 10/100 form 3 times daily. Functional 90% of day. Update 04/2013: L/C 200/50 8x; Beta Blocker; ACE Inhib; Ginger; Turmeric; Creatine; Magnesium; Potassium. Doing well.
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