Sinemet Dosing Question - Parkinson's Disease Message Board

clsc · 02-15-2009, 04:00 PM

Hi, I've read a lot of the threads posted here before I decided to post this. I am on a dialup connection and it takes a long time for each page to load. I can't just click on a thread and have it come up for me to read. I can actually get up and get a few minutes worth of work done in the kitchen waiting for a page to load so please forgive me (for not searching the threads again) so I started this thread to ask:

What's the usual amount of time to wait between Sinemet doses? My husband is prescribed it 3 times per day. (25/100) No instructions about times were given. He seems to want to stretch it out over 7:30 AM and midnight each day. I tend to think he would feel better if he took the doses a little closer together than 6/7 hours.

But I'm not trying to change his mind. I'm only suggesting that he not take his medication with a huge protein meal, rather take it before a big meal or an hour after.

How many hours does the generic Sinemet last for others? He is 62 and has probably had PD for at least 2 years, (only diagnosed 3 weeks ago) and showed a couple of early symptoms of it as long as 5 -6 years ago.

clsc · 02-25-2009, 02:54 PM

Well, on the followup appointment the doc now is giving him the Controlled Release Sinemet to take at night so he will feel smooth until morning and not experience such a big "off" I guess you could say. That's in addition to the 3 x daily Sinemet I already posted about and the Azilect.

He got it filled but hasn't started taking it yet. Didn't get any feedback on this first post I made, but from reading the board & what others have posted, seems that some people don't feel that adding more medication especially late in the day is always effective? He's still getting used to what he started with 3 1/2 weeks ago.

clsc · 02-27-2009, 08:40 PM

Well, it seems I'm posting to myself here, but since this thread has had over 100 views, hopefully someone is reading it, & will comment with some thoughts to give me their viewpoints.

Since I last posted, he did decide to start the CR Sinemet at night. The first night he said he felt "wired" and had a hard time sleeping but the next day he had his best day ever! Then last night he took it again and today, he also had a *very* good day. I'm encouraged. He's said that he thinks he's recovered a certain something of his personality that he hasn't felt in a very long time.

I wonder if others have had results like this when they started medication. Or if the Controlled Release is part of feeling better or is it that he's passing the 1 month mark after diagnosis and beginning to take medication.

My best to everyone else who is trying to cope with this.

CLSC

clsc · 03-16-2009, 02:46 PM

Does anyone else has a lot of pain and aching in their muscles when they first wake up and try to move-- or after getting up from having been immobile for a while (such as watching TV or napping)?

Before taking the medication this was *not* the norm.

But he does have a disk problem in his back (& had surgery Mar/08) so we wonder if that's mucking things up. Then again, it would not account for the all-over muscle pain I don't think.

Has anyone experimented with their Sinemet dosing to see if they would have fewer side effects? He went without the night-time Control-Release Sinemet as a test. No problems at night but getting going the next day was harder. We think the CR Sinemet, taken at 11 PM or as late as midnight may be having an effect in the AM when he takes his morning IR Sinemet. If the 2 doses are overlapping, it seems to help get the day started.

Please post, those of you who are able, who might know about whether the aching and the pain (which happens after a period of inactivity) are a side effect of Sinemet or any other medication you might be taking. This was not something he had much of at all before starting medication.

Jack Pollitt · 03-27-2009, 12:33 PM

Getting up in the morning and being stiff and sore is something you are probably going to have to get used to. I was diagnosed with pd 5 years ago and I can tell you some mornings are pd are a real challange.Recently my doctor put me on Requip XL at night.It has helped better than anything else we have tried. I am still stiff but it seeems I loosen up quicker,it also takes care of restless leg that I have.