requip vs sinemet - Parkinson's Disease Message Board

rose59 · 09-17-2009, 08:38 AM

My husband is on requip .05 every four hours as needed.
I see that most people are on sinemet. The Dr. has never
mentioned sinemet to him. What is the difference in these
two meds? Anyone?

ivydawson · 09-19-2009, 12:34 AM

my father has had parkinson's since 1996. in the past he was prescribed requip and did take it for some time. it had a terrible behavioural side effect which i've since read is not uncommon. it caused him to be very obsessive in his behaviour. he became fixated on things, unfortunately one of them was gambling. my father was 63 years old and he had never gambled in his life and after a visit to a casino on a vacation he became fixated on gambling. he also became fixated on other things most to do with around the house. much to my mother's detriment and alarm.
only after too much time and unfortunately too much effort required we convinced his medical team that this was not just him but that something was wrong. only then did we get rid of the requip. he now takes sinemet and the obsessive behaviours seem to have subsided.
i would suggest doing some more research online about requip and i would seriously consider if it's the right drug for him.

esolc · 11-05-2009, 07:26 AM

I did Sinement first and now Requip. The Requip works well for me, but in time as we know all Rx., loose there original ability to control things. I say get second opions. I have been from a Nuro person who only could think of a couple of medicenes to a person now who has a battery of six Rx.,s. It all depends on what your doctor understands about PD. This last doctor is young and is trained to deal with people in our state. Hope this sheds a little light on your thinking. Always thinking of our people like us, have a wonderful day.