Hi everybody,

I have never posted here before. I do hope you would not mind me writing now since I am not a patient myself. My mum,58, was diagnosed 1,5 years ago and at that time I used to ask some questions at the other forum where I actually found your address. I have been more a lurker since then. Well, I do not really know where to begin, sorry … She still has a problem with the right diagnosis which means one neuro says it is PD, another one suggests – vascular parkinsonism and her GP is sure it is none. The whole thing began with high blood pressure history of several years. She has been on medication for a long time now, 1,5 years ago hand tremors at rest added suddenly, then consequently changing therapies in hope to slower the progression. Her neuro is desperate not being able to say what she has and not knowing how she can help her. The second time now she prescribed her Madopar, the first try was not successful since it did not change anything after two months taking the meds. It is looking quite similar now, not even a slightest change in several weeks. I spoke to my mum today and suddenly she began crying … she told me about those strange, vivid dreams she has every night now. She cannot do anything against, I mean I know we cannot manipulate our dreams, but every night she sees people who died years ago. She told me she is afraid to go to bed. I read somewhere the reason might be an overdose of medication or maybe it is some absolutely wrong medication? Does any of you have any experience with vascular parkinsonism? I read somewhere on the internet it requires some different treatment or ever no special treatment is available to help the patients. Besides, I read some time ago that levodopa treatment does not give any positive response in patients with vascular parkinsonism. If so, is Madopar the right med for her then?

I would greatly appreciate any advice or just a response.

Thanks a million!

Lara

it can be diagnosed witih the appropriate scan. Usually vascular PD is either transiently responsive to drug therapy or not at all.
http://www.medical-library.org/journ...ns_disease.htm

PD drugs can give vivid dreams,, ask your movement disorder specialist about "Seroqul" to help with the vivid dreams.

Charlie, PD since 1990, DBS-STN in 2002 at UCLA

Lara, my husband had those vivid dreams. If he dreamed he was playing football, he would throw a fore-arm; if he was in a boxing match, he would throw a punch. His neurologist prescribed clonazapam which he takes at bedtime.....no more wild dreams! It seems to have worked for quite a few others, maybe it could help your Mom.

seroquel has less side effects than Clonazepam. Either will work but both are not drugs to take hap-hazardly.

here are two links that will help you decide.

http://psychcentral.com/meds/clonazepam.htm

http://www.drugs.com/seroquel.html

Ask your MDS what he thinks!

Charlie

Dear Lara,

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract

Above is an abstract link you can copy into your browser and read. According to this research article, olfactory (sense of smell) is a possible way to identify if your mother has vascular parkinson's disease or idiopathic parkinson's disease.

I would follow up with the neurologist (who sounds great) about the vivid dreams. It is usually a reaction to a med she may have been prescribed.

What a lucky mom to have such a caring daughter.

Love,
Vicky

Dear Vicky,

Thanks a lot for the link. Testing olfactory function might be helpful, who conducts such tests, though? The result is actually the olfactory function in people having vascular Parkinson and healthy people does not differ a lot and is significantly better than in patients with Parkinson's disease, right? I mean I am not sure I got it correctly.

Charlie, JoClay – thanks a million for your replies!

Do you think it could be reasonable for my mom to discontinue Madopar since it does not help and is probably causing the side effects?

If there is anything I can do for you, guys, just let me know. I speak German, so if you need anything to be translated ….

Lara

Maldopar. Is that the only drug she takes?
the only rap I could find from my Aussie friends, was one lady who said she did not care for its rapid on's and off's.
Any of the PD Drugs can give one vivid dreams, or they may be a result of her advancing PD.
Why do you say the Maldopar is ineffectual? Perhaps it is time to investigate other PD drugs??
Doese your Mum see a Movement Disorder Specialist??
It sounds to me like she needs a good workup and a drug protocol investigation.

CHarlie

Charlie,

As far as I know patients with vascular parkinsonism have poor response to levodopa and another treatment is needed for them. They say : ” The treatment of vascular parkinsonism is to try to lower the chance of having additional strokes in the future, by attempting to control “stroke risk factors”. Easier said than done …. - high blood pressure is one of the major risk factors and it is not easy to control. Madopar is not the only drug she takes at the moment, there are some more to lower her blood pressure. Movement Disorder Specialist is a rear thing in Russia where she is living. All right, let’s hope for the best.

Thanks,

Lara

Dear Laurawa,

I will be completely honest with you. I have never, until reading this post, heard of vascular parkinsonism. I did a search on google and found the research site. It sounds like Charlie is more up on this subject. I would suggest you talk with him. Is vascular parkinsonism something that occurs toward the end of idiopathic parkinsonism when the Autonomous system begins to be involved? I have low blood pressure, but am having alot of premature varicose veins and have been told by nurses drawing my blood, that my veins tremor out of their grip when they try to insert a needle. Would appreciate hearing more about this particular disease.

Second search says a scan will tell the difference.

http://jnm.snmjournals.org/cgi/conte...tract/42/3/408

Thanks,
Vicky

Vicky- I tried that link, but got a "not found" response. Do you have any other lnks?

I started with the vivid dreams six or so months before the tremors hit - they have tapered down over the three years since I started meds. Kind of the opposite from what the others are reporting. I've tried Seroquel, and it worked, but I was taking 30 mg nightly, and needed more, so I switched to Lunesta, which my insurance company will pay for only 14 days out of every 23 days. So what am I supposed to do the other nine nights

I sympathize with the remark about being afraid to go to bed because being asleep was too miserable. Active thrashing about nightmares, drifting awake every 15 minutes or so, night sweats - the works.