Sleep-dopamine charger ?
 

From being first diagnosed Iv noticed a significant improvement in symptoms between 2 am and 5 am, ie when the meds are lowest,almost spent.
As I have no aversion to either garlic or crosses I am assuming it is a PD/meds thing. My neurologist said it was simply the remaining cells generating dopamine during sleep. I have no problems with that....... Except
Since my recent increase in requip I no longer enjoy this freebie
I used to experience this even when awake til 2am, no sleep
Afternoon naps don't produce a similar effect

Any sleep related experiences or opinions most appreciated


Nigel


Don't know how the yellow 'face' thing in the title got there !

Nigel,

You raise some interesting points.

I too seem to have reduced symptoms in the middle of the night, although I'm 12 hours or so from my last dose. I can put off my morning dose for hours and still perform pretty well, but once I take a pill I quickly deteriorate until its benefits kick in. Interestingly, when this wears off I'm much worse than I was during the night even though the last dose was much closer.

I think that your neurologist is right that it's to do with your remaining dopamine production. I think, however, that the real answer is more nuanced.

Based on a finger tapping argument I estimate that 60% of my dopamine is endogenous.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread183360-2.html

See Post 17.

John

Thanks John,

As always I value your opinion and knowledge. I find what you've written quite fascinating as it may possibly link to a theory I'm trying to flesh out. I'll post a thread later when I can collate the links/refs but basically I wonder whether serotonin, with its 14 sub-types acts as a master control for the other neurotransmitters and that in some cases, not all, it is a problem of distribution of dopamine rather than supply ie the warehouse is full but there's limited transport to get goods to the shops, DRT is like getting an outside supplier to satisfy demand.
I wonder if, for example when we feel worse initially, as you describe, it is a case of the intoduction of meds further confuses, temporarily, the faulty control system.
Maybe at night,when sleep dominates the control switches to backup mode, this may also explain such things as paradoxical kinesia ie the supply is there and in emergency there is a secondary system that can be tripped (via acetylcholine ?)
Speculation I know but thats what to do through winter sorted.

Nigel