SSRI's like prozac and xanax ABSOLUTELY can kick off NMS or SS (serotonin syndrome) even when you don't quit them. These horrible syndromes can happen just taking the drug as directed. Going off the drug as I did with sinemet started this horrendously annoying to the point of cutting off my arm jackhammer tremor that I never before experienced (and is a very COMMON side effect of quitting the meds). And that list of meds keeps growing the more that I read. If she was then put on sinemet it is very possible she has the same issue I do and does not have PD at all from your description and time line.

Not to throw hope and let you in for a disappointment but I sure the heck would be asking some very hard questions to doctors and seeking new opinions because the alternative is very bleak. I asked my doc when he said I don't have PD what my prognosis was. He asked, "well what was your prognosis before?" I said very bleak. He said, "well it is no longer very bleak my friend." At the very least life without sinemet is better than life with it.

So whatever the cause of her symptoms I think you have a VERY GOOD case for her possibly not having PD but having gone through some type of NMS/SS problem and was inappropriately treated for misunderstood symptoms. She now could be addicted to the sinemet and if that is the case she must increase dose over time to maintain function. This means she will be more debilitated by the intrinsic increasing and numerous motor fluctuations that are a undeniable side effect of sinemet and will continue to assault her.

Read up on the symptoms of NMS or SS. They fit your mom. This is what's scaring me. How many more?? I so hope you find good news out of all of this. I don't mean to diagnose or raise false hope but this sounds very much like many of the case studies I've been reading.

I will pray for good news for you all. You are very welcome. If one person suffers less I consider my efforts worth while.