May 11, 2014 (Started Jun 12, 2007)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for Parkinson's disease)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (drowsiness, jerky movements)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 6 x 25 mg-100 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: As of today, I am still taking six sinemet daily, two pills at a time. Even when I am off, I can write and type almost as well as ever. And even when off, I have no tremor (unless I try to walk, then my right hand shakes.) And when I am on, my walking is generally normal. (I sometimes have problems with freezing when on.) My balance is also much better when I'm on. When off, I have difficulty standing on one leg, but I can do so for a minute or more when on.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: jerky movements, drowsiness

Sep 19, 2010 (Started Jun 12, 2007)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for Parkinson's disease)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (drowsiness, jerky movements)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 6 x 25 mg-100 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: At my most recent neurologist visit, she told me I had dyskinesias. My wife has also noticed them. I'm not sure how long I"ve had them, probably a few months. At my previous visit, three months ago (when I saw the Nurse Practitioner, not the neurologist), the Nurse did not mention them. They are quite mild - at least mild enough that I don't notice. My neurologist has suggested I take more Amantadine to see if this reduces them.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: jerky movements, drowsiness

Mar 29, 2009 (Started Jun 12, 2007)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for Parkinson's disease)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (drowsiness)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 6 x 25 mg-100 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: The first neurologist I saw, in March 2006, had me try a couple of sinemet per day. They had absolutely no effect. The second neurologist I saw, in April 2007, had me take a half tablet per day for the first week, one tablet daily the second, one and a half daily the third, and so on until I was taking four daily after eight weeks. It had no effect until the fifth week, when I started taking two and a half tablets daily. At that time, it improved my eating, dressing, and showering, but did not improve my writing or typing or walking. Later in 2007 I went to five sinemet daily, with little change. During the summer of 2008 I went to six, and my writing and typing essentially became normal. Even when off I’m able to write and type almost as well as ever. And I have no tremor. My walking improved dramatically as well – I could walk a mile or more first thing in the morning after taking my medication. But I would be off a substantial part of the day. I was taking one pill at 5 AM, 9 AM, noon, 3 PM, 6 PM, and 9 PM. In the fall of 2008 I went to taking two pills at 5 AM, 8 AM, and 1 PM. This improved my walking considerably.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: jerky movements, drowsiness

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