Mirapex - compulsive eating // Early-Intervention DBS
 

Please share any experience you have had with Mirapex and compulsive eating...a side effect of Mirapex.

If CE, do/did you have a specific food and how severe was/is the CE?

As I increase the carbadopa/levadopa and Mirapex, both dyskinesia and eating, respecively, increase. I don't know which is worse taking the Mirapex to keep from taking more carba/leva, or eating compulsively. Two years ago I prided myself in my excellent eating habits.

My MD doc continues to suggest early-intervention DBS at Stage 3, so that, 1) PD and side effects don't increase to disabling, and 2) more good years.

Compulsive eating of anything sweet is my biggest problem...my fav these days...eating Starburst jelly beans...never imagine the day I would do this.

I prefer this to eating healthy food, which I have to force myself to do...a very sad state of affairs :Sigh:. As you can imagine, this problem is very bad for this insulin-dependent diabetic who values greatly keeping my glucose under 120. So, this eating problem means more injections during the day, which I resent greatly.

Yes, this is a discussion for my MD doc.

:Thanx:for any comments!!

Carolyn, can't say I obsessed re. food
 

any more than usual due to Mirapex, however I have noticed "obsessive tendencies" since taking the drug and do believe it affects me in that way. I try to look out for such tendencies before they land me in trouble, (the local donkey sanctuary already has my picture displayed :) ).

As for early DBS, I have commented my sceptical view before re. big pharma wanting to get a treatment in early in case another supercedes it. I am uncomfortable with any Doctor recommending major (and dangerous) invasive brain surgery as anything other than a last resort.

I like to believe gene therapy will help me and will take one injection of "genes" over DBS anyday. However, I can understand the rationale for early DBS.

Neil.

Dbs and weight gain
 

You must be aware that one of the not so uncommon side effects of DBS is weight gain. Not every patient puts on weight but quite a number do. That should not deter you from going ahead with the surgery which is indeed a wonderful option for young onset PWP (was operated at age 47, some 13 years after diagnosis). Was able to go back to work. But weight gain is a constant fight.
Regards,
Mireille

Mireille, what Stage of PD were in when you had the DBS? Why did you decide to have it done?

Weight gain, yes!
 

Hi Mirriele,
You're spot on regarding weight gain.
For those of you wondering why the wt gain my neurologist explained to me it's quite common after DBS due to a sudden absence of dyskinesia and for those with tremor a sudden lack of tremor.
Both are great calorie burners!
I've just started losing weight with regular trips to the gym and a curbing of my chocaholic intake but I wish I'd thought of that earlier!
Cheers,
Lee