So far, not so good. I have been having some pretty rough "off" times, although the side effects from the Requip have abated a bit. I think I need to give it another couple of weeks to let the system settle out before deciding whether to declare victory or give it up, though. It's a pretty stressful time for me, and as we all know, stress can magnify symptoms enormously.
The good news is that I'll be on vacation soon; next Saturday we're off to Lake Tahoe for a week. My brother Drew and his wife Debra will be there, as well as a large contingent of my husband's family. Fun!
In the meanwhile, though, I have an impossible deadline looming over me. Some people say they work better under pressure. I wish I could say that...
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Less medication... for once.
I went to my neurologist, and walked out of his office with a prescription for less of one of my medications! I've been having some side effects that I don't like (slight hallucinations, sudden sleepiness, edema in my legs and feet) and the doctor thinks it's from the Requip. So, he cut me back from 12 mg a day to 10mg; that is, 5 pills instead of 6. Kind of nice to be decreasing medicine rather than increasing for once. That means that instead of 17 pills a day, I'll be taking 16.
So far, I've had no reaction to the change either way, really (except for some symptom fluctuation, but I was told to expect that). One of the things I've learned about Parkinson's medications, though, is that I have to be very patient. It seems to take a long time for the system to stabilize after I change something.
So, now I take these every day:
6 Stalevo
5 Requip XL
2 Amantadine
2 Zelapar (selegiline)
1 carbidopa/levadopa
and that's not counting the Ambien I take for insomnia, the Baclofen I occasionally take for muscle rigidity, the Sumatripan I take for migraines and the B12 and D vitamins I take for vitamin deficiencies. Oh yes, and then there's the study drug I'm taking for a clinical trial. It's amazing that I don't rattle when I walk! Well, I'm just grateful that it all works as well as it does.
"Better Living Through Chemistry", right?
So far, I've had no reaction to the change either way, really (except for some symptom fluctuation, but I was told to expect that). One of the things I've learned about Parkinson's medications, though, is that I have to be very patient. It seems to take a long time for the system to stabilize after I change something.
So, now I take these every day:
6 Stalevo
5 Requip XL
2 Amantadine
2 Zelapar (selegiline)
1 carbidopa/levadopa
and that's not counting the Ambien I take for insomnia, the Baclofen I occasionally take for muscle rigidity, the Sumatripan I take for migraines and the B12 and D vitamins I take for vitamin deficiencies. Oh yes, and then there's the study drug I'm taking for a clinical trial. It's amazing that I don't rattle when I walk! Well, I'm just grateful that it all works as well as it does.
"Better Living Through Chemistry", right?
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About Me
- Marian
- I'm a lucky lady. I have a wonderful husband of 27 years, a fantastic 25 year old son (I'm so proud of him!) a loving and supportive family, the best friends in the world, a job that I love, and... Parkinson's Disease. I was diagnosed in September 2006. That was a jolt, but I'm learning to deal with it.