Jan 22, 2021
(Started Jun 30, 2004)
-
Effectiveness
Moderate
(for restless legs syndrome)
-
Effectiveness
Major
(for Parkinson's disease)
-
Side effects
Moderate
(for Overall)
(tardive dyskinesia, headache, headaches)
-
Side effects
Moderate
(for Dyskinesia (jerky Movements Without Tremors))
-
-
Burden
Somewhat hard to take
Dosage:
1 tablet(s)
Four times daily
Jun 26, 2020
(Started Jun 30, 2004)
-
Effectiveness
Moderate
(for restless legs syndrome)
-
Effectiveness
Major
(for Parkinson's disease)
-
Side effects
Moderate
(for Overall)
(tardive dyskinesia, headache, headaches)
-
-
Burden
Somewhat hard to take
Dosage:
1 tablet(s)
Four times daily
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Mar 1, 2020
(Started Jun 30, 2004)
-
Effectiveness
Major
(for restless legs syndrome)
-
Effectiveness
Major
(for Parkinson's disease)
-
Side effects
Moderate
(for Overall)
(tardive dyskinesia, headache, headaches)
-
-
Burden
A little hard to take
Dosage:
0.5 tablet(s)
Daily
Advice & Tips:
I have tardive dyskinesia very strongly now and it is even detectable to others around me. It is embarrassing to me. I am able to stop the dyskinesia for a few seconds at a time but it always returns. I guess I can just be thankful that it involves my legs, feet and my torso but NOT my tongue or mouth. I hope that it never gets to those areas. I would not be able to leave my house.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Jan 12, 2017
(Started Jun 30, 2004)
-
Effectiveness
Major
(for Parkinson's disease)
-
Effectiveness
Major
(for restless legs syndrome)
-
Side effects
Mild
(for Overall)
(tardive dyskinesia, headache, headaches)
-
-
Burden
A little hard to take
Dosage:
25 mg-100 mg
Three times daily
Advice & Tips:
I am so afraid of increasing my dose of carbidopa/levadopa that I still have not even tried it. I might be able to move better if I increased it but I fear the nausea, the dyskinesia, the near syncope. However, I have such back pain that it interferes with everythingI want to do. I can only walk for a short time before I am looking for a place to sit. That eliminates any tours, any walks in the woods. I used to enjoy walking. And I have gained a lot of weight from being sedentary.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Apr 24, 2016
(Started Jun 30, 2004)
-
Effectiveness
Moderate
(for Parkinson's disease)
-
Effectiveness
Can't tell
(for restless legs syndrome)
-
Side effects
Mild
(for Overall)
(tardive dyskinesia, headache, headaches)
-
-
Burden
Somewhat hard to take
Dosage:
25 mg-100 mg
Three times daily
Advice & Tips:
The carbidopa/levodopa works the best for me to lessen the symptoms of PD. Other Rx drugs I tried didn't work as well or they worked well for symptoms but caused syncope or near syncope and left me feeling drained. It took many months to find the right med & the right dose. I do realize that carb/levo may cause tardive dyskinesia before it's over. But right now it is the best I can do & I want to enjoy it while I can. I can do quite a bit still . I owe that to the carb/levo.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Nov 26, 2015
(Started Jun 30, 2004)
-
Effectiveness
Moderate
(for Parkinson's disease)
-
Effectiveness
Moderate
(for restless legs syndrome)
-
Side effects
Mild
(for Overall)
(headache, headaches)
-
-
Dosage:
25 mg-100 mg
Three times daily
Advice & Tips:
My niece showed me how to set my iPhone clock to have a timer go off every day at 1pm to remind me to take my mid day dose of carb/levo & pramipexole. It works!!! It has worked. I have not missed a day since using the timer. I now am aware of "wearing off" of the meds. I never noticed it until a few months ago. At my last appt with Neurologist he increased my carb/levo to 1 1/2 TID. He said to increase gradually. I haven't increased just yet because I want to be firmly on the previous dose first which I am with this timer helping me. Soon I will try the new increase.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Jun 5, 2015
(Started Jun 30, 2004)
-
Effectiveness
Major
(for Parkinson's disease)
-
Effectiveness
Can't tell
(for restless legs syndrome)
-
Side effects
Mild
(for Overall)
(headache, headaches)
-
-
Burden
Somewhat hard to take
Dosage:
25 mg-100 mg
Three times daily
Advice & Tips:
Now I am taking a new dose-1 TID-gradually titrating up from 1/2 TID. I still miss my noon dose although not as often. It is difficult remembering. I do notice the increase in dose is helping me stand up straighter longer & within about an hour of taking my dose. It is a pain in the neck to take 3 x a day but it improves my symptoms.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Feb 11, 2015
(Started Jun 30, 2004)
-
Effectiveness
Major
(for restless legs syndrome)
-
Effectiveness
Moderate
(for Parkinson's disease)
-
Side effects
None
(for Overall)
-
-
Burden
Somewhat hard to take
Dosage:
25 mg-100 mg
Three times daily
Advice & Tips:
I no longer am seeing any improvement. Maybe I have just gotten used to it & no longer notice it. Maybe it is time to increase again.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Nov 10, 2014
(Started Jun 30, 2004)
-
Effectiveness
Moderate
(for Parkinson's disease)
-
Side effects
None
(for Overall)
-
-
Burden
A little hard to take
Dosage:
25 mg-100 mg
Three times daily
Advice & Tips:
This formula (immediate release) was given so I can see if I can get more carb/levo into me for better symptom control, but the problem with this formula is that I have a hard time remembering the noon dose. I am having an easier time remembering it now that I am retired, but I still forget sometimes. So far I MAY have experienced improvement in symptoms: I occasionally get relief from my back pain. I think the pain is caused by the postural changes with PD & anything I do to correct posture relieves the pain. This 1/2 pill taken 3x a day gives me more levo than I was getting with the CR 50/200 1/2 daily. Just that small amt more seems to have helped me stand up better which relieves the pain.
Cost:
< $25 monthly