I was sent a request by a young onset PD personality on this forum
they want to know the side effects that mirapex can cause...

I would opt for the google of two or three words:
Parkinsons patients, and sue, mirapex,bad side effects...

I have seen MIRAPEX for RLS: restless leg syndrome

The Case of the Cure Being Worse than the Ailment?

MIRAPEX TV Commercial

What strikes me about it, though, is the side-effects cited at the end.

"Mirapex may make you drowsy or cause you to fall asleep during normal activities, like driving....consult your doctor.....if you experience increased gambling, sexual, or other urges..."

So, what less shaking - but now you have narcolepsy and OCD. That's just great!


anyone else -please ?

Tena - Mirapex worked for my PD symptoms (I am tremor dominant) for the 3 years I took it after I was diagnosed in 1999 (I was 41 years old). It was the only drug I used. It made me sleepy, fogged my brain, and caused OCD behavior, mainly obsessive computer use. Since that was 8 years ago, when it had been out only for a short time, there wasn't as much known about it as there is now - I took it without the knowledge of all of these potential side effects.

I then took Requip alone for 3 more years (I switched because I was falling asleep at the wheel while commuting to my job) before I started Sinemet.

I think it was good to delay the start of Sinemet for me; I would start the same way again, but be really cognizant of the potential downsides of Mirapex - and I would also make sure close family and friends were aware, so that if things begin to go wrong, adjustments can be made. Also, I am now on SSDI and no longer commuting to a job - don't think I could have continued to drive alone for long distances under the influence of any agonist.

It's an effective PD drug that needs to be taken with extreme caution.

Ditto 100% of what Carey said.

I am on Mirapex, but fortunately I have not had the adverse side effect, well, except sleepiness...not at the wheel though.

I think that Carey summed it up so well, i.e., Mirapex is an effective PD medication that needs to be taken with extreme caution. I am able to confirm this through experience. After my pwp's initial dx., her neurologist prescribed Mirapex...starting with a low dose and gradually increasing the dosage. Her tremor was literally eliminated...her energy level extremely high...her handwriting was better than ever...it was just an all-round effective medication for her. However, unknown to us at the time about the possibility of developing OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), I noticed the signs of the disorder but made no connection to the Mirapex. At the time, not much (if anything) was known about this POSSIBLE side effect nor was there any kind of "caution" on the labeling and pharmaceutical printouts. I will just say..and I have said it here in the past...the period of time while my pwp was taking Mirapex was a nightmare...excessive over-spending without a thought as to the money she was spending. She would purchase items (mostly electronics)...bring these home...keep them for a few days..then return them...buy something else...and on and on she continued this procedure...often purchasing many duplicates of the same item, e.g., we had FIVE weather stations...all similar...distributed throughout a 3 1/2 room apartment. This is just ONE example of the duplication. It wasn't until I read at another forum about the possibility of developing OCD while taking Mirapex that it "dawned" on me that this was the problem. At the time, even her neurologist was unaware, but just as soon as we told him about this, he immediately weaned my pwp off Mirapex. I will say that she had gradually increased to what I believe to have been the maximum dosage, i.e., 4.5 mg. daily. To this day, we wonder if a lower dose of Mirapex could be added back into her medication regimen simply because my pwp fared so well on this medication, i.e., as related to her symptoms and general overall well being...and, in fact, we are considering asking her neurologist if he would consider adding a lower dose.
Again...as Carey said...it can be an effective PD medication but needs to be taken with due caution.

Therese

It's good to have the info out there so persons that might take Mirapex can be aware of the possibility of OCD behaviors.

My dad just got it added into his meds mix last winter and it has been a great help for him. I told my mom of the possibility of OCD & sleepiness just so she was aware - but we have not noticed any adverse effects from it.
I don't know what his dosage is though- he has been taking Sinemet for many years and they decided it was time to add something.
He's much more like the dad we remember.
In his case is is a very good thing.

Indigogo summed it up nicely, (don't mean your answer was boring Indigogo). I have been taking Mirapex for 4 years, starting at age 40, and would still rather take it and put up with the side effects, (fatigue, slight OCD tendencies, (resulting in a restraining order keeping me at least 50 metres from the local donkey sanctuary, damn they look good, did I say that out loud?)), than not take Mirapex at all.

Stay off the L-dopa till you need to but don't kill yourself or waste valuable time just to avoid a drug which you have no idea how you will react to anyway and will really help you.

Take care,
Neil.

One has to titrate the dose up REALLY SLOWLY. If you don't, and MIRAPEX seems to be "no good for you", you might have better luck if you go real slow with it. I tried it and couldn't tolerate it no way, but when i went up with it slowly on my second attempt with it, it seemed to alleviate the symptoms of PD quite well. I found it "zombifying", no hint of "boneriferocitizing"

I thought I'd add my .02 in here. When I was first dx'ed they started me on Mirapex. After a few days, when the drug got into my system, all I wanted to do was sleep. I called my MDS to complain and she wanted me to stay on it for awhile saying the sleepiness would go away. It didn't. I completely lost 6 months because I was asleep. At that point we changed to Requip. I had pretty much the same results. These are effective PD drugs that need to be taken with extreme caution. Some of us can take them and some can't.

GregD

Neil - that is so funny! thank god for a sense of humor - one person's OCD may be another person's pleasure!