I'm a "retired" (read useless, put out to pasture, because i can't work because of advancing PD) central nervous system chemist, so i've spent literally thousands of hours studying "brain affecting chemicals".
Here's a synopsis of zonegran;
http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed...1&type=display
Basicallly it is a very simple molecule that has antiseizure properties. Because it is a benzisoxazole ( with a methylene spacer as part of the side chain attached to a sulfonamide group ( a primary sulfonamide, ie., unsubstituted on the NH2 terminus), it's mode of action can only be stated, not "pinned down" as to exactly what it does and where it does it in the brain. A lot of these antiseizure drugs have "supossed" GABA inhibitory action (GABA is one of the important "neurotransmitters" that is discribed as an "excitatory amino acid activated neuron stimulant" so inhibiting overactive excitation of structures in the brain may be responsible for it's "calming" action. Zonegram also hits some of the benzodiazepine (valium, klonepin, etc.) receptor family, which is said to be attributed to part of it's antiseizure properties. Lets just say that it acts like a "neurontin" or the second generation neurontin called "Lyrica" type drug. Also , if you have no adverse reactions to sulfonamide drugs, zonegram looks to be a pretty simple drug. Although "Simple" one can never say "innocuous". Time will tell.
Cannabis, on the other hand has perhaps the accumulated clinical data in humans of around 20,000 years . WE know a lot about it as far as ADME goes (Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion). Cannabis really IS an innocuos drug, despite what the powers that be want us to believe and have gone to every corner of the universe to attempt to make us believe that cannabis is an evil, harmful drug. Sure you don't want to be behind the wheel of a car while spaced out, and you don't want to get chronic with it (everything in moderation), but reefer madness, gimmee a freakin break Harry Anslinger. I don't smoke it any more because it doesn't make me feel like i can function better. I'm sure that a lot (not all, for some it is the only thing that counteracts the emesis experienced with dopa therapy) of PWP who have tried it will tell you the same, but MS victims seem to be better served in a medicinal effect by it. It is also of great medicinal value with some neuropathic pain syndromes, glaucoma, lupus and other autoimmune diseases, menstrual cramps, depression(especially in the elderly) and a host of other human complaints that have been shown to be benefitted by over the millenia. Anyone who doubts this becuase of indoctrination by our western prohibitive laws, is simply not open to the truth established through the ages cs

Wow, where do I start. I haven't laughed this hard in a while! Buzz, I applaud you. Really. Even though I do not agree with the use of your particular herbal remedy you have been honest and maybe answered someone else's question if they were pondering 'bout rollin' up a fatty. Or at least caused some lively discussion. As for the rest of you... what businees is it of yours if I do watch the today show all morning. I did at least get out of the bed today-although I think it wasn't until about 2 or 3. I do admit that I don't think I showered yesterday And if I can find my damn timer I'll tell ya when I last took my meds.
And finally, hey CS, you're not out to pasture! Aren't we all CNS chemists? Finally, let that !#$@
cat out!

spilld my wine:

this is one of the funniest and most accurate things about PD i've read in a long time - thank you!

"The herb buzz can create the effect that a lot of PD'ers are tryin like 'ell to avoid!
The whole motivation thing, sit in the chair and watch the entire "Today Show". Next thing ya know, half the day has gone and you're still wearin pajamas-havn't even showered yet, uh-oh whats this?......my legs are stiff from sittin here to long.
Difficulty remembering things, did I take both of my meds or just one? Where's the remote? What's my Neurotalk username/password? When did I agree to a cat?
Cotton mouth from all the meds, or slober on your chin from the PD.
Slowness in the simplest of task, if they ever get completed.
Mild depression. The list could go on."

BUZZZ - whatever works!

I'd like to throw my "two cents" in here, if you don't mind.

I think, like pharmaceuticals, that mmj (medical marijuana) is a very useful tool. It has applications for many different diseases and conditions, as in my case.

I have rsd/crps. Mmj works wonderfully for my pain, spasms, and muscle tightness.

I also have epilepsy. Mmj allow me to take 1/4 less of my pharmaceuticals, which helps greatly in reducing the "fog".

Furthermore, I have aids. I have a serious issue with my weight. Mmj increases my weight from 87 lbs. up to 105 or so. I have much less nausea and more of an appetite.

Just as people have different reactions to various pharmies, they have it to mmj. For most folks, their benefits greatly outweigh the side effects.

There are also many different varieties, all with different effects. They can range from "mild", like an Ibuprophen, to "hard core", like Morphine. Some are, as they call it, "couch lock" types, where you want to sit and veg on the couch with a bag of Cheetos. But others will actually make you more energetic and able to deal with your life. It just depends on what effect you are looking for at that time. You also control the effects by how much you consume, just like dosages of a pharmy.

All this being said, I am sad to say that mmj is not available to me. It is legal to obtain it... if you can find a dr. brave enought to prescribe it. But none of that matters if you receive any type of aid from the federal gov't. If you get caught with any, they take away your money.

There is also an ironic twist to the money situation. The fed gov't won't allow mmj to be used, but they allow a synthetic version called "marinol" here in the U.S. . Each months supply costs $1,500. Obviously, with my serious health issues, I receive fed. funded medical aid. So, instead of allowing me and my hubby to grow our own medicine (he too, of course, has aids... as well as Hep C) , the fed. gov't spends $3,000 a month of the taxpayers money for those two people alone. Not having mmj available also increases our need for other pharmies to compensate, a further expense. That is bad for our health as well as the taxpayers pocket.

This situation makes us feel awful, as well as more of a burden on people. We would much prefer to be self-sufficient in this area. Not to mention that when you multiply our costs by the vast numbers of poor patients needing all these meds, the financial costs to the taxpayers is mind boggling.

Thanks if you managed to read this long-winded post, lol. It's a subject I feel strongly about, as you can tell.

And I sometimes wonder if my contempt for the medical system and it's ability to exploit tragic situations is biased, distorted and exaggerated...

Nope. It really is bizarroworld.

Thanks for sharing your story. Keep up the good fight.

So where is the answer? I just don't know. That's one of those complicated issues. I'd say that clearly the issue here is the possibility that a valid use of the mmj will turn into a business of drug sales. But then again we have laws on the books to address that so why penalize someone who has a valid use for the "drug".. Wasn't vioxx a drug? Oh, that was FDA approved...BS. All this time we tax and "persecute" cigarettes and alcohol- I don't use either. The #1 healthcare crisis in America is heart disease! HELLO! Where is the tax stamp on that cheeseburger? You want to start talking about something now that's where I get ticked. My wife's health ins won't pay for weight loss surgery but they'll pay for diabetic care, high bp, cardiac problems, etc. Go figure!