...if not more devastating than PD, what would you do?

after taking sinemet cr and using requip over 7 years, dx 11 years ago, the medications side effects cumulate to a stage that they are sometimes more damaging than PD:

when my dosages of sinemet exceeds 1000mg per day, i will have severe withdrawal dystonia, so i keep it below that level

taking sinemet at too close intervals will give me extreme drowsiness and speech disorder - kind of overactivated vocal muscle which makes my word unhearable. thus a longer spread of intake intervals is required.

overall undermedication lead to frequent balance loss and tendency to fall...

any suggestions?

for conventional medicine, i've benefited from ASK THE DOCTOR, ASK THE PHARMACIST.
http://forum.parkinson.org/index.php...sk-the-doctor/

i'd give your dosage history and as much info as you can, what else you may have tried.

I think what I will say, here, is somewhat in "sync"with the topic. Recently, my pwp's Mirapex came from a different manufacturer. I didn't realize this at the time. Shortly after taking the "new"medication, I began to notice...very gradually...a change in her cognitive ability...couldn't tell time...could not remember numbers at all, e.g., her age...my age...notating doctor's appointment times incorrectly...and a slight slurring of speech which really frightened me in that my pwp had fallen about 6 months ago...hit her head which resulted in a slight stroke and a subdural hematoma. After many CAT scans of her head...showing that the hematoma was gradually being absorbed with eventual complete absorption she seemed fine. When all this seemed to return, I immediately thought that the hematoma might not have been absorbed completely...but, thankfully, I thought to check the "newer"Mirapex (new mfg.) and was able to relate to the time when she started this medication and when I began to notice the cognitive difficulties. Her neurologist was willing to take the time...rather than to do another CAT scan in that she has had so much radiation lately...to take the time to see if, when I was able to get the Mirapex that she had been taking there seemed to be any change. It took time for the "newer"Mirapex to leave her body...then, some time for the original to "kick in"...but, it does seem that the change in manufacturer was a factor. I don't know if anyone else has experienced this, but, in the event that no one has thought to check into the difference in manufactuer factor, I thought this post might be helpful. Doreen was taking the generic for Mirapex...Pramipexole...which had just been fine...Teva manufacturer. I realize that the a generic must have the same active ingredient...BUT...I would imagine that an incorrect amount...or, an incorrect ration could make the difference...I believe this is what happened with the difference in manufacturers. Just thought I'd share this "story"for anyone who might not have had this kind of experience...or, who might not even have thought that another manufacturer could make a difference.

I hope all of you are doing well...I haven't posted here in a very long time...am going to try to visit more often.

Take care..
Virginia Therese