A short update:..

Now that Im over the stomach bug, and the weather is warmer, Ive been getting out of the house and working on the 19' fiberglass boat I recently bought..Ive been setting it up to haul my conch traps, and have it in my yard on a trailer..I mustve climbed in and out of it atleast 25 times in a 3 1/2 hour period today..I was fatigued after I got done tinkering as usual..but climbing in and out that amount of times wasnt as big a deal as it was last year at this time when I was working on the other boat that I recently sold..The last few times I had some trouble lifting my bad leg up high enough getting in and out..I took and hour and a half nap and went out to the store tonight, and much to my surprise I had no trouble putting my coat on or getting my arms behind my back to grab the sleeves to take it off..My balance is still better than usual, and stiffness still improved..What I have been curious about was how I would fare after doing some work, and what Ive noticed is that afterward I still get fatigued, but after a nap Im in reasonable shape again, and seem to maintain some additional movement and balance..I definately feel like Ive done some work today, but Im not all parkied out like I was feeling before adding DM to my daily regimen

Robert:

I looked up Simply Cough on he web and got this warning.

Lloyd

WARNINGS
Do not use in a child who is taking a prescription monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (certain drugs for depression, psychiatric or emotional conditions, or Parkinson's disease), or for 2 weeks after stopping the MAOI drug. If you do not know if your child's prescription drug contains an MAOI, ask a doctor or pharmacist before giving this product.

All of the dextromethorphan-containing cough preparations I have seen have that warning. It should certainly be heeded, regardless of whether the one taking it is a child or adult.
It is my opinion that, at the very small doses I and others are taking for the purpose of neuroprotection (5-8mg per night) any interaction with almost any other drug would be negliglible.

Remember that the dosage recommended for cough supression on the bottle is several times higher, and allowed at 6 to 8 hour intervals.

As I have posted before several times, I am not recommending that anyone else embark on the experimental use of this drug for PD neuroprotection. However, when someone asks me what I am taking, I give the most complete answer I can.

Robert

I looked very carefully at the cough medicine Benylin(dry coughs )which contain Dextromethorphan hydrobromide 6.5 mg per teaspoon and could find no warning against its use by P.W.P.Yes, all the other warnings but no mention of Parkinson's.

Whoops .I misread the post.Yes. there are warnings about which drugs you should not use it with and one is a drug sometimes used for Parkinson's.

I am taking approx 7.5 mg or less per night..(1/2 teaspoon @ 15 mg per teaspoon)

I am not recommending this to anyone

From Wikipedia

Dextromethorphan should not be taken with any of the following:

monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)[5]
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)[5]
CNS depressant drugs and substances, including alcohol, antihistamines, and psychotropics, will have a cumulative CNS depressant effect if taken with dextromethorphan.[5]

From medicine plus:..

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d...r/a682492.html

From:..Drugs and Human Performance FACT SHEETS -

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/inju...methorphan.htm


From:..DEXTROMETHORPHAN (Street Names: DXM, CCC, Triple C, Skittles, Robo ...

http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/dr...m/dextro_m.htm

From:..Dextromethorphan (PIM 179)rom:..

http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/pharm/pim179.htm

From:..Consumer Reports Medical Guide -

http://www.consumerreports.org/mg/dr...methorphan.htm

Hi, I did a quick search and this is the first item I came across. There was a clincal trial using DM to treat advanced PD patients at the NIH about 10 years ago. The DM dose used in the trial was 10 to 20 times what is probably recommended for PD neuroprotecion. Again, the purpose of low dose DM or naltrxone is neuroprotection. Has anyone found a reason why DM is counter indicated for PD?
Ashley

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00001365
The effects of the NMDA antagonist dextromethorphan (DM) on levodopa-associated dyskinesias and motor fluctuations were studied in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. During initial open-label dose escalation, 6 of 18 patients reported a beneficial effect at their individually determined optimal DM dose (range, 60-120 mg/day). The 12 remaining patients either experienced reversible side effects, particularly mild drowsiness, or decreased levodopa efficacy, and were therefore excluded from the study. The six responders entered the double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study with two 2-week arms separated by 1 week wash-out. On the last day of each arm, motor ratings were performed every 20 minutes for 8 consecutive hours. In addition, motor complications and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) were assessed using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and patient diaries. With DM, dyskinesias improved by 25% according to physician's ratings and by 40% according to UPDRS interviews, without compromising the anti-Parkinson effect of levodopa. Motor fluctuations and ADL scores also improved significantly. Although the narrow therapeutic index of DM limits its clinical usefulness, these findings support the view that drugs acting to inhibit glutamatergic transmission at the NMDA receptor can ameliorate levodopa-associated motor complications.

...you still doing well? It has been two weeks since my last MAOI so I am going to edge into the deeper water a bit. I am going to work my way up to a single 15 mg gel cap. I know that is higher than the doses we've been talking about but the advantages of having the option of the handy capsule are considerable and the dose is still very reasonable if one is a non-Parkie.

It is important to note that I am looking for short term relief of symptoms whereas Robert's approach is directed at long term protection. The two may or may not be compatible.

I guess it would be a bit melodramatic to don a WW1 flight cap and goggles at this point...

Rick..Im still feeling above average for 17 days in a row

It is 9:00 AM and I am twelve hours in, having started with a 7.5 mg dose last night. Observations to date:
1) Stayed up until midnight as usual but went to bed without my "normal" level of symptoms. Was in pretty good shape, actually. Rare for me but not at all unheard of.
2) Slept very well. One trip to the loo which I consider a pretty good night.
3) Up at 7:30 AM and seemed better than usual by about a 25% factor for function.
4) Am holding to my regular meds. Turned "on" in the usual 45 min to 1 hour for me. Seem normal response in other aspects
5) I notice that I am unusually handsome today.