I have read so much "pro" and "con" related to Mirapex, and I'm just looking, here, for those of you who may have taken...are taking...Mirapex. Initially, Doreen's neurologist prescribed Sinemet solely as a diagnostic "tool". Once diagnosed, he then prescribed Mirapex, and Doreen fared extremely well symptomatically (tremor absolutely controlled) and with a general feeling of well-being...no other adverse effects w/the exception of slight ankle swelling. Unfortunately, however, at its maximum dose (4.5mg. daily), Doreen developed the "dreaded" OCD behavior which was truly a nightmare. She was immediately titrated off Mirapex and Sinemet was re-introduced. Sinemet worked quite well for a number of years (dx'd approximately 10+ years, now), but recently, she has developed the unwanted adverse side effect of the Sinemet, i.e., dyskinesia which is becoming increasingly worse. Recently, her neurologist...at my urging...agreed to prescribe Mirapex again, but at the lowest dose (.125 mg. 3x's daily) which Doreen felt had helped somewhat w/the tremor; he then increased the dosage to .25 3x's daily) starting just this week, and she has noticed an even greater improvement. (One would think that I would be the LAST one to request a return to Mirapex in that I, myself, suffered so much during the period when the OCD occurred). However, I recalled how well, symptomatically AND generally Doreen fared while taking Mirapex, and I have been willing to take full responsibility for any behavior that even "hints" at OCD. Presently, then, she is taking the Mirapex (.25 mg 3x's daily) which seems to be controlling the tremor fairly well; additionally, she is still taking the Sinemet (25/100..total, 4 tabs daily) with an eventual aim to decrease and possibly eliminate Sinemet altogether to try to eliminate/alleviate the dyskinesia. All this having been said, I'm asking a simple question, but one, I guess, without a simple answer: "Are any of you taking Mirapex with any success? Do you have a "success" story to tell me? I really think that I'm looking for validation for my request that Doreen be able to try Mirapex again...that it isn't the "most dreaded" PD medication that she could be taking. Yes...it SEEMS to be helping, but I seem to question the wisdom in taking a medication that COULD be detrimental even if it seems to be "working" well. Is there something else that we should know about Mirapex that could be detrimental in the overall "scheme of things"? I think I may be feeling guilty...responsible...for any negative that COULD evolve from my urging the return to this medication.

I realize that this was so lengthy, and I apologize for that...but, I felt that I wanted you to know the entire "story" behind my urging that Doreen be allowed to return to this medication. I guess I could just have asked the basic question: "Are any of you taking Mirapex with any success? It is really this question that I most want answered, and I would so appreciate hearing from anyone who can respond with a possible positive answer.

Thank you...
Therese