He's discontinued his Sinemet

[Guest guest]

Hi Folks. has discontinued his Sinemet without any medical

advice because he said it just made him too sore. Have any of you

had experience with this? Also, I thought I might have detected some

signs of paranoia and cognitive disorganization whilst he was taking

the medication which seem to be subsiding a little now. Could this

be possible? We've been referred back to the neuro but I don't know

how long it will take to get an appointment. In the meantime, if any

of you have had experience with this sort of response to Sinemet

could you please let me know. Thanks so much.

Pat in Nova Scotia

[Guest guest]

Pat,

I hope he tapered off slowly as going off it too fast can cause severe

problems. It is true that Sinemet can cause some paranoia, but it usually

goes away with time. It can also cause hallucinations which also usually go

away with time.

However, it does usually help with rigidity. Unfortunately there are not a

lot of meds that can help with rigidity.

Good luck, Bill and Charlotte

===========================

pjd@... wrote:

> Hi Folks. has discontinued his Sinemet without any medical

> advice because he said it just made him too sore. Have any of you

> had experience with this? Also, I thought I might have detected some

> signs of paranoia and cognitive disorganization whilst he was taking

> the medication which seem to be subsiding a little now. Could this

> be possible? We've been referred back to the neuro but I don't know

> how long it will take to get an appointment. In the meantime, if any

> of you have had experience with this sort of response to Sinemet

> could you please let me know. Thanks so much.

> Pat in Nova Scotia

>

> If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may

> unsubscribe by sending a blank email to

>

> shydrager-unsubscribe

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Bill,

Excuse me for butting in but I was intrigued by your telling Pat of Sinemet

causing paranoia and hallucinations, as when Warren went into the nursing

home, the Dr. started him on Sinemet because of his severe tremors. I can't

truly tie it all together but he had the paranoia and hallucinations until

just a couple of weeks ago. He suddenly was not talking of me trying to get

rid of him and people kidnapping him at night. I thought it was because of

the change of living areas. The Dr. has taken him off several drugs that he

said were repetitive of drugs he was taking so maybe that helped too.

Anyway, he's better. I will watch if they have to increase the Sinemet.

Hope Charlotte is doing okay.

S.

Re: He's discontinued his Sinemet

> Pat,

>

> I hope he tapered off slowly as going off it too fast can cause severe

> problems. It is true that Sinemet can cause some paranoia, but it usually

> goes away with time. It can also cause hallucinations which also usually

go

> away with time.

>

> However, it does usually help with rigidity. Unfortunately there are not

a

> lot of meds that can help with rigidity.

>

> Good luck, Bill and Charlotte

>

> ===========================

>

> pjd@... wrote:

>

> > Hi Folks. has discontinued his Sinemet without any medical

> > advice because he said it just made him too sore. Have any of you

> > had experience with this? Also, I thought I might have detected some

> > signs of paranoia and cognitive disorganization whilst he was taking

> > the medication which seem to be subsiding a little now. Could this

> > be possible? We've been referred back to the neuro but I don't know

> > how long it will take to get an appointment. In the meantime, if any

> > of you have had experience with this sort of response to Sinemet

> > could you please let me know. Thanks so much.

> > Pat in Nova Scotia

> >

> > If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may

> > unsubscribe by sending a blank email to

> >

> > shydrager-unsubscribe

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

,

Sinemet MAY cause these side effects in some people. It does not always cause

them. It is more of a side effect of an overdose of the medicine. When you

first start Sinemet, you suddenly get high doses compared to what your brain is

used to getting, so that tends to overdose easily. But as your brain adjusts to

the Sinemet, it usually evens out and the side effects tend to go away.

This type of symptom also is a sign of infection and/or disorientation. If you

change living locations, it can confuse a MSA patient also. There are other

meds like dopamine agonists or antidepressants which can also produce these side

effects. It is ALWAYS best to check with your doctor before adding or stopping

meds. Any doctor who prescribes a new med for you should be aware of ALL meds

you are taking (as well as any " natural " supplements you take). For instance if

you are taking florinef, you should be careful in taking ginseng as they both

raise BP.

Using ephedrine-containing dietary supplements can also cause psychosis. These

" natural " herbs should not be used if you are taking Warfarin or aspirin -

ginkgo biloba, garlic, gensing, dong quai, willow, and red clover. They act as

blood thinners and should not be used if you are expecting to have an operation

either. A Chinese herb, Aristolochia fangchi, (marketed under several different

names) has been linked to kidney failure and cancer.

That is why it is so important to know what is going into your body and what it

can or can not do to your body. Read the info sheet that comes with your meds -

what you DON " T know CAN hurt you. " Natural " cures often just tell you the

possible benefits (not always proven either) and seldom tell you the side

effects.

Take care, Bill and Charlotte

=================

Strong wrote:

> Bill,

> Excuse me for butting in but I was intrigued by your telling Pat of Sinemet

> causing paranoia and hallucinations, as when Warren went into the nursing

> home, the Dr. started him on Sinemet because of his severe tremors. I can't

> truly tie it all together but he had the paranoia and hallucinations until

> just a couple of weeks ago. He suddenly was not talking of me trying to get

> rid of him and people kidnapping him at night. I thought it was because of

> the change of living areas. The Dr. has taken him off several drugs that he

> said were repetitive of drugs he was taking so maybe that helped too.

> Anyway, he's better. I will watch if they have to increase the Sinemet.

>

> Hope Charlotte is doing okay.

> S.

> Re: He's discontinued his Sinemet

>

> > Pat,

> >

> > I hope he tapered off slowly as going off it too fast can cause severe

> > problems. It is true that Sinemet can cause some paranoia, but it usually

> > goes away with time. It can also cause hallucinations which also usually

> go

> > away with time.

> >

> > However, it does usually help with rigidity. Unfortunately there are not

> a

> > lot of meds that can help with rigidity.

> >

> > Good luck, Bill and Charlotte

> >

> > ===========================

> >

> > pjd@... wrote:

> >

> > > Hi Folks. has discontinued his Sinemet without any medical

> > > advice because he said it just made him too sore. Have any of you

> > > had experience with this? Also, I thought I might have detected some

> > > signs of paranoia and cognitive disorganization whilst he was taking

> > > the medication which seem to be subsiding a little now. Could this

> > > be possible? We've been referred back to the neuro but I don't know

> > > how long it will take to get an appointment. In the meantime, if any

> > > of you have had experience with this sort of response to Sinemet

> > > could you please let me know. Thanks so much.

> > > Pat in Nova Scotia

> > >

> > > If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may

> > > unsubscribe by sending a blank email to

> > >

> > > shydrager-unsubscribe

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Pat

Further to what Bill wrote, we had a slightly different experience.

A few years back, started having 'waking dreams', a form of

hallucination, and paranoia. Her neurologist tinkered with the

bromocriptine (Parlodel) and slowly reduced it until the problems

ceased. Her Sinemet has since been increased, as has the Parlodel,

but the previous problems have not resurfaced. So I believe that in

's case it was the bromocriptine that was causing the problem.

I would like to offer some advice. Sit down with and get him

to agree to a pact, as I did with . I told very

early on that I would do everything possible to look after her, give

her the best possible care, that she wouldn't go into a nursing home,

that I wouldn't give up on her. All I asked in return was to be the

final arbiter of ANY decisions. Rightly or wrongly, I was very

firm. I was not prepared to compromise. I reasoned that if

something were to go wrong, it is my conscience that will suffer. I

would discuss, listen to her, quite likely do as she asked, but I

make the final decision. When we discuss her medications, I decide

whether or not they are changed, AFTER I have discussed it with the

relevant health care professional. She is happy to accept that.

I strongly recommend you sit down and do this with .

Regards

aka the wombat

http://members.optushome.com.au/wwwombat

[Guest guest]

To all:

If a patient is on Hospice, Medicare pays Hospice over $3600. per month for the patient's care. It is imperative that we insist it be spent on the patient.

Barbara

[Guest guest]

(wombat),

To a large extent, I agree with you. However, here in the USA there is a

point of no return on nursing homes. It may well be a decision that a

caregiver MUST make reluctently. That is why I would NEVER tell Charlotte

that I will never put her in a nursing home. We get very little help in

keeping the patient at home from the government insurance (Medicare). I (and

others on the list) have chosen to keep Charlotte at home as long as

possible, but it may be necessary at some point to put her in a nursing home.

However, many on the list - especially small women with large husbands, have

severe problems with just moving the patient. Then too, there are caregivers

with serious health problems of their own. I agree strongly that the

caregiver and patient sit down early and decide on ground rules of what is

acceptable on both sides. At some point, it WILL be necessary for the

caregiver to make some decisions that they dislike, but that is life - who

said life was fair.

I know that I dislike having to NAG Charlotte to do her exercises every day,

but if she wants to stay home, I need some cooperation (in the form of

movement) from her. The only way she keeps movement is to exercise daily.

I also guard my free time as a caregiver carefully ) I decided that I

could not be away from home long enough to play two games of softball at a

time and gave up softball for this year, but I maintain my table tennis

evenings ) my kids know that two-three evenings a week, they have to watch

Charlotte while I go to a friends and play table tennis.

It may be that you did not mean this the way it sounds " that she wouldn't go

into a nursing home, that I wouldn't give up on her. " Putting the patient

into a nursing home may not be giving up on the patient, but realizing that

you are unable to give them proper care at home.

Take care, Bill and Charlotte

===================================

wwwombat@... wrote:

> Pat

>

> Further to what Bill wrote, we had a slightly different experience.

> A few years back, started having 'waking dreams', a form of

> hallucination, and paranoia. Her neurologist tinkered with the

> bromocriptine (Parlodel) and slowly reduced it until the problems

> ceased. Her Sinemet has since been increased, as has the Parlodel,

> but the previous problems have not resurfaced. So I believe that in

> 's case it was the bromocriptine that was causing the problem.

>

> I would like to offer some advice. Sit down with and get him

> to agree to a pact, as I did with . I told very

> early on that I would do everything possible to look after her, give

> her the best possible care, that she wouldn't go into a nursing home,

> that I wouldn't give up on her. All I asked in return was to be the

> final arbiter of ANY decisions. Rightly or wrongly, I was very

> firm. I was not prepared to compromise. I reasoned that if

> something were to go wrong, it is my conscience that will suffer. I

> would discuss, listen to her, quite likely do as she asked, but I

> make the final decision. When we discuss her medications, I decide

> whether or not they are changed, AFTER I have discussed it with the

> relevant health care professional. She is happy to accept that.

>

> I strongly recommend you sit down and do this with .

>

> Regards

> aka the wombat

> http://members.optushome.com.au/wwwombat

>

> If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may

> unsubscribe by sending a blank email to

>

> shydrager-unsubscribe

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Bill, Thanks for your reply. Warren isn't taking any of the " natural

herbs " . We don't stop any meds without Dr and the Dr was the one who

stopped them at the home. I'm trying to educate them all about Warren's

disease, and I keep pushing to make them recognize it.

Thanks again for your time,

S.

Re: He's discontinued his Sinemet

> >

> > > Pat,

> > >

> > > I hope he tapered off slowly as going off it too fast can cause severe

> > > problems. It is true that Sinemet can cause some paranoia, but it

usually

> > > goes away with time. It can also cause hallucinations which also

usually

> > go

> > > away with time.

> > >

> > > However, it does usually help with rigidity. Unfortunately there are

not

> > a

> > > lot of meds that can help with rigidity.

> > >

> > > Good luck, Bill and Charlotte

> > >

> > > ===========================

> > >

> > > pjd@... wrote:

> > >

> > > > Hi Folks. has discontinued his Sinemet without any medical

> > > > advice because he said it just made him too sore. Have any of you

> > > > had experience with this? Also, I thought I might have detected

some

> > > > signs of paranoia and cognitive disorganization whilst he was taking

> > > > the medication which seem to be subsiding a little now. Could this

> > > > be possible? We've been referred back to the neuro but I don't know

> > > > how long it will take to get an appointment. In the meantime, if

any

> > > > of you have had experience with this sort of response to Sinemet

> > > > could you please let me know. Thanks so much.

> > > > Pat in Nova Scotia

> > > >

> > > > If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may

> > > > unsubscribe by sending a blank email to

> > > >

> > > > shydrager-unsubscribe

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >