The book "Once upon a pill: Medications of Parkinson's" has been most useful to me for understanding and regulating dosage. It is available for free download, at the "Parkinson's Recovery Project" website.

Blessings

Also, try to only chase one medication at a time. If you are increasing 1 and decreasing another and adding on a third medication you will never know which medication or scinero is causing the issue.

Best of health,

Mark

If you dr says you need it and there is nothing else he can do, you need to find another dr. As you can see from your research this is a side effect of the medication in some people. This side effect will go away when the dose is decreased and/or stopped. Please let your husband know this. I have seen marriages break up over this. Let him read the posts on this site or look up the info on the Internet together. Also, bring him into the dr's office with you. Let him tell the dr. One of the most important things you can do is to bring your caregiver or loved one with you. They see things about you that you will never see about yourself.

I wish you the best and hope that your husband will be understanding and open minded about this issue.

Best of health,

Mark

Does he have diabetes? Many times an effect of diabetes is nerve issues in the legs and feet. This may be another cause of the leg issues.

If other medical issues are not tended to, other issues can arise. I think he needs a complete physical check up from his primary dr. Please go with him, your words can help a great deal.

Best of health,

Mark

I feel for you! Hang in there; it took at least 2 weeks for me. I HAD to stop it quickly when I discovered that I was pregnant. I felt just like I belonged in a methadone clinic or the film Trainspotting. I know the spacy feeling like a brain fog and then an invisible force pulling me toward the ground; I had wracking headaches, gnawing inside my gut, sweating, chills, etc. I slept for hours on end during the day because that's the only relief I had. Doctors don't believe that Mirapex causes this, but they don't know, unless they try it themselves, do they? Withdrawal effects are clearly documented by many on the Internet.

Please see Mark, our pharmacist's recommendation for going off Mirapex above. I don't see this is "going back on" but more a safe way to gently ease your body and brain off this horrible drug.

Do NOT let your doctors talk you into any more drugs unless they put you on the lowest possible therapeutic dose that has you building up over a course of weeks, not days. I also have a sensitivity to drugs and when I had to start again with a drug, my neuro had me titrate up over a period of six weeks- I hardly noticed any side effects at this rate.

Hang in there! You will feel "normal" again :)

Laura

The issue of titrsting and withdraw affects is much worse in hypersensitive people. What I recommend for you is:

3/4 orig dose daily for 7 days
1/2 orig dose daily for 7 days
1/4 orig dose daily for 7 days
1/4 orig dose every other day for 7 days
if needed...1/4 orig dose every 3rd day for 7 days

This should help with the issues you have been experiencing.

Best of health and hang in there,

Mark

I think it's fairly common for doctors to try different meds and I think it's common to have you stop one drug altogether before starting another. He may want to re-examine you au naturel (unmedicated) before he tries you on a different drug. Don't worry- you WILL feel better. All of this is really trial and error; we all go through it when switching meds. Do you see a Movement Disorder Specialist? I would recommend it as I think they're more experienced with what we go through and meds. Has he given you a schedule to stop taking it gradually? If he has you going cold turkey- don't do it, and definitely seek a new doctor.

Hang in there. Not all of us experience Mirapex withdrawal and some of us not so severely. My experience was compounded by the fact that I took Klonopin, Mirapex, and Sinemet- I had to stop all drugs too rapidly as it was the first trimester of my pregnancy; I think my system went into a bit of shock. This forum is good in so many ways but can make us anxious or ready to freak out when we read of bad experiences of others. I think the main thing to be aware of is that you may have a worsening of existing symptoms like tremor when you stop taking it. You may also have what seems like new symptoms pop up.

Try not to let the ramped up symptoms you may experience freak you out; remember that stress is not our friend. If your symptoms do intensify; it is temporary- they will level off. You'll then feel more alert (no more icky brain fog) and I bet you'll notice the cramps go away too. If you presented with a tremor as first sign of PD, your tremor will be there- but know that you will be able to use your right hand again! Your neuro has to find the right drug for you; Mirapex is not it.

Please know that you're not alone- I have to go through stopping this drug, again- I foolishly let my neuro put me back on it post-pregnancy. Not only do I hate the way it makes me feel, I get no benefit from it. I'm hoping that I won't have such a bad time this round.

Kelly, please feel free to e-mail me at numnum06(at) gmail(dot)com. I'd love to chat with you more about the unique challenges we face being new moms and we can commiserate through this Mirapex thing too. :)

Best to you,

Laura

Last Edited on 25-Jul-2009 12:37 AM

Good luck to all you PD sufferers you are in my prayers
- Donna

Best of health,

Mark

Best wishes

Emma

Last Edited on 31-Aug-2009 3:56 PM

You really need to ask your dr.

Best of health,

Mark

Best of health,

Mark