Jean, thank you for your detailed response. I took my second dose 30 minutes before eating lunch, and still have no change in my symptoms. My next Dr appt is Dec 15. I wonder what the doctor will have to say, what he will try next.

Good or bad this is a clue to finding relief or resolution to the physical challenge I'm dealing with.

Thank you all for your responses, I will let you know what the doc has to say.

Robert

rd42-
In response to your earlier question, I have had PD 10 years, but have only been dx'ed, 3 years. I went to my family doctor in 98 because of leg pain and numbness in my foot. He referred me to an orthopedic doctor and then orthopedic doctor referred me to a neuro in Jan. 99. The neuro first suspected MS, but the tests were negative. A prominent MDS told me there was nothing wrong with me in Jan. 2000, which was very upsetting. I was first told possible Parkinson's in June 05 and was finally dx'ed with Parkinson's in Jan. 06.

If the Stalevo is not helping any symptoms, I suspect you may not have Parkinson's. Good luck with your doctor's appointment and with getting a correct diagnosis.

So the doctor up'd my dosage to 1 125mg Stalevo and 3 100mg per day and it's been two weeks or so. The only difference is that I feel like my left leg, already symptomatic, is made of cured cement... heavy and stiff.

I'll call the doctor... but any ideas? Any one else have a similar reaction?

I'm thinking of making a request for Sinemet. May as well, I may be 33 but I don't know what tomorrow will bring and I could use some relief.

Robert

My mother in law has all the symptoms of PD but her MRI has said otherwise. Her neurologist had prescribed Stalevo prior to her having her MRI. Now that the results are back and have been read and do not show Parkinsons I am confused. The medication has worked wonders over the last 2 weeks. I have googled by brains out to find what Stalevo could possibly be used for other than PD. Can any one help?

I googled "Stalevo uses" and it seems Stalevo is exclusively used for Parkinson's. Have asked the doctor? Best of luck to you and your mother in law.

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=stale...fp=10-O84VS7Cs


Robert

well the thing that jumps out at me is that an MRI is NOT a diagnostic tool for diagnosis of PD. only a Fluoro-dopa isotope SPECT or PET scan is a recognised tool for diagnosis of PD.

Charlie

Hi,

I'm going to chime in here to say that an MRI sometimes is used as a backward way to make a diagnosis of PD. Basically, it's not MS or any other sort of brain disorder discernible by MRI, so, by exclusion, it's one step closer to possibly being PD. At least that is what I have experienced at the clinical level before an ET diagnosis which is now regretfully, unmistakably PD.

Laura

Laura

But Laura you are right on. I had an mri to rule out a brain tumor. Once the brain tumor was ruled out - I got the pd dx.

this is true, MRI's are used to rule out causes of ParkinsonISM. Such as strokes, tumors, hydrocephalus etc. Sorry I took the post so literally.
(they aren't, however, used to diagnose PD!)
Charlie

mri to rule out tumor, PET scan to dx PD.

RD42, I take 4 x Stalevo 100 daily, it was my starter dose and I have stuck with this for the last two years. It works fine for me.

Apart from the obvious options discussed here, you should bear in mind that Stalevo is designed as a constant and gradual release drug, so you don't get the l-dopa rush and resultant side effects. I am a firm believer that a persons body mass and metabolic make up determine the effective absorption and hence dosage of a drug. It could be that your body mass and metabolism need a higher dosage to be effective. On the other hand your Neuro may tell you that is complete nonsense but it may be worth suggesting.

Good luck,
Neil.