[imark3000]

I have long wondered about this question and did search for an answer. I must say that I have a feeling (but no proof) that there is a conspiracy against this class of drugs by the medical/ pharmaceutical industry and the hidden reasons are related to profitability of selling these "old" drugs which compete with the l-dopa and dopamine agonists. I know that this statement sounds weird, irresponsible and stupid so I repeat that it is only a hunch and you may take it as a joke which is not funny !!

The following recent article is a recent example of research which provide a ‘may be / may be not’ answer.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...blems-in-older

Imad

[paula_w]

Originally Posted by imark3000

I have long wondered about this question and did search for an answer. I must say that I have a feeling (but no proof) that there is a conspiracy against this class of drugs by the medical/ pharmaceutical industry and the hidden reasons are related to profitability of selling these "old" drugs which compete with the l-dopa and dopamine agonists. I know that this statement sounds weird, irresponsible and stupid so I repeat that it is only a hunch and you may take it as a joke which is not funny !!

The following recent article is a recent example of research which provide a ‘may be / may be not’ answer.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...blems-in-older

Imad

as you may know i take nortriptyline which includes anticholinergic properties. The side effects are no worse tham most drugs. I have none that i can see. Some are on artane and cogentin; i tried cogentin and loved how relaxed i f elt but it clouded the brain. That was early on in the illness - maybe i wouldn't notice the fog now lol.

i know a guy who took cogentin and said it was the only thing that helped his tremor.

i'm all for my nortriptyline for nerve pain, antidepressant, and anticholinergic. my dystonia is sometimes actually not there at all on a lucky morning.

here are the side effects and i am not trying to convince you, it's just the one i am on.
http://www.google.com/search?q=is+no...e=utf8&oe=utf8

[lindylanka]

I have been off an on this class of drugs for a few years, for bladder problems. They certainly work for what they are intended for, though eventually there is a tailing off of effect, and then you need to change to a different one.

They also seem to support the PD meds, and while on them I have much more fluid movement, and look and feel less affected.

That's the good bit.

The bad bit is that they give me awful brain fog, and increase apathy to the point that I really don't like what I see in myself. They also, for me, give a fair amount of mildly painful muscle twitching, and far more worrying, a feeling of fullness across the liver area.

But there are other medications in this category that once were used for PD, I tried to press my neuro on these, but he wouldn't have any of it.

My thought was that if there are PD anticholinergics, maybe they would also help the bladder problems and PD at the same time - I am running out of options currently with the ones I have been taking. His opinion is that they are 'old-fashioned, and people don't use them because there are too many side-effects'.

There are loads of them, and are prescribed for all sorts of things.....

Lindy

[lurkingforacure]

"But there are other medications in this category that once were used for PD, I tried to press my neuro on these, but he wouldn't have any of it.

My thought was that if there are PD anticholinergics, maybe they would also help the bladder problems and PD at the same time - I am running out of options currently with the ones I have been taking. His opinion is that they are 'old-fashioned, and people don't use them because there are too many side-effects'.

There are loads of them, and are prescribed for all sorts of things.....

Lindy[/QUOTE]

What??? All the PD meds have side effects, and lots of them, who is he kidding? If you want to try a med, he should support your informed decision. Unless you love your doc, I'd look for another one. We go to two, not including one who we consult by phone. They all listen, and if one won't let us try something, we got to another. (Tricky, this, because you have to space the visits out so you don't go broke...but I like to think of it as having a couple of lawyers on retainer, they are there when/if you need them). The only thing we've not been able to try, yet, is methylene blue, and that was really only because we couldn't figure out the dose! I'd have another talk with him and see if he couldn't be persuaded to support your treatment preference.

[caldeerster]

I try to limit the doses, but there are nowhere near the side effects of the agonists. I literally feel like I"m being poisoned when I take the agonists, so I would agree with your thesis.

Anyone have any thoughts on cogentin vs. artane?