[maryfrances]

May I ask what you know about mirapex? Has anyone had any experience with this drug that they wouldn't mind sharing?

Mary Frances

[Jomar]

My dad has been on it for about 4 months now and it seems to be good for him. More active, less anxiety about going places and doing things.
He's been on sinemet for many yrs & a antidepressant also.
Mom is much happier too as she can't drive and she is still pretty active.

[Stitcher]

I was on Mirapex when I was working...left the work force in 2000. I didn't stay on it long since I felt like a zombie and couldn't think or concentrate.

Then I was on Requip. I had a sleep attack on the Interstate at 65 miles and hour, but didn't realize that was what it was until I reached Paula's and told her about what happened. She told me about sleep attacks while driving and I quit that day.

I am back on Mirapex for about a year now. It is like taking a sleeping pill for me, but it is better than taking more carbidopa/levodopa...700 mg a day now. I could use more of both, but what I take is just enough and I don't want to up as long as I can put one foot in front of the other.

Although if I was still working I wouldn't take an agonist at all due to the sleeping pill effect.

[Slumpy]

Mary Frances,
Mirapex = so far, so good but it's only been 3 weeks.

My MDS added Mirapex in addition to the Azilect when I finished the Azilect Phase IV trial on 24 April. I titrated up to .5 MG x 3 of Mirapex over 2 weeks. Just as the Mirapex starter kit recommends--.125 MG x 3 the first week, .25 MG x 3 second week and now .5 MG x 3 for the last 7 days. This is in addition to the 1 MG x 1 of Azilect.

Azilect only had very minimal improvement as a monotherapy but my MDS firmly believes it neuroprotective so he wants me to continue taking it.

So far I'm very pleased with the results of Mirapex. I'm moving much better, almost no stiffness, my handwriting has improved and some tingling/numbness in my rt foot has disappeared. I feel better and some minor anxiety I had is gone. My action tremor has also improved significantly. I can now manipulated my computer mouse and type with almost no jerkiness.

And so far, very few side effects.....did suffer some sleepiness the first 2 weeks and still get a little sleepy in the afternoons if it's slow at the office. Now I having a little insomnia for the last 4 nights, in that I fall asleep OK but wake up after 3-4 hrs and then toss and turn a little for the remainder of the night.

So again, I'm very happy with the results so far. Just hope it lasts for many months or even years.

Next appt with my MDS is Monday as follow up on Mirapex so we'll see what he recommends.

Slumpy (Larry)

[aftermathman]

working in v. pressurised environment for 3 years.

Drawbacks, fatigue, just got to fight your way through it as it is better than the alternative.

Not perfect but the best I have seen.

Aftermathman.

[Teretxu]

Watch out for obsessive-compulsive behaviour. Mirapex is said to induce gambling in people who never even bought a lottery ticket.
I was affected in a very surreal way: I found it difficult to leave the house before the mailman arrived, for instance. Since the mailman usually comes around noon, I wasted my mornings at home, even if I had to run errands.
That was a scary part, but not the worst. It made me very fidgety and nervous to the point that I was afraid to ride in a car when somebody else was driving.

[maryfrances]

Thank you all, so much for sharing.

[chasmo]

at the first sign of it cut back on your dosage. Quit it if your OCD doesn't subside. about 25-35% (my estimate) of mirapex users exibit OCD. I know women and men who have thrown away great mates due to sexual OCD. Be VERY careful!! there are many people who are sex addicts due to mirapex. I have a dear friend who has gambled away over 100K also.
Sleep apnea is a real problem too. There is a "upper" originally marketed as an anti-anxiety drug that is helpful.
Can't recall the name of it though.
If you exibit any OCD-type behavior, tell your doctor immediately!!

Charlie

[paulie]

Hi I have been on Mirapex for about 6 months, plus I continune to take my sinemet with it. At first the Mirapex was great. I felt great and people commented on how well I looked. My energy levels were up I had way more energy, my balance improved as did my mood. It was almost like a miracle.

BUT... (there always seems to be a but). I have developed compulsive eating disorder. Never in my life have I had a weight problem or an overwhelming desire to eat eat eat. I can finish a full supper and wonder what else I could eat. I would wake up in the middle of the night and finish off a carton or ice cream (and I'm talking 2Literes). My 5'8" weight has gone from a comfortable 135lbs. to 165lbs in about 3-4 months. I want off this drug but I am trying accupuncture to see if it will help the cravings.

Good Luck with your decision. Keeping in mind everyone has different responses to drugs. This is just mine.

paulie

[maryfrances]

Thank you all so much!