Mirapex dose - Restless Leg Syndrome Message Board

mom212 · 09-12-2003, 02:27 AM

I am in the diagnosing stage for the cause of my muscle cramps, balance problems,stiffness and mild tremor. I have been on Mirapex for almost 3 weeks. It has helped,but only for about 3-4 hours after taking it. I am on a very low dose of .50 at night and .25 morning and afternoon. My symptoms do not seem real typical to me for PD. They are not one sided. I did start having right hip pain several years ago that I assumed was athritis. This then began in the knees and shoulders and lower back, sometimes making it verry hard to turn over at night. I finally saw a reumatoligist last Nov.. He said that it was not athritis according to blood tests and x rays. I then started having these feet and leg and hand cramps in Jan. This started the search for what was really wrong. MS was ruled out. My tremor does not seem to be the PD tremor I see described. The MDS said that I have a tongue temor. I did not even know this. It is very temulous most of the time. Maybe this is why I have bit my tongue often, even in my sleep sometimes! My hand tremor is only noticable when I'm holding a paper or the telephone, etc.
I'm 46. Some days I know this has to be PD. Other days I think no way! Maybe just stress( I do have 12 children(9 youngest adopted), eight at home ages 6-18) and sleep depravation from the aches and muscle cramps. Many of my symptoms could easily be stress related, short term memory loss, inability to focus on more than one thing at a time,clumsy hands, ect.
Who else has had this progression of symptoms? How unusual is it to have the same symptoms pretty much on both sides before even being diagnosed? From what I've read this usually happens much latter. Thank you and blessings, Sharon

PS, should I ask for a higher dose of Mirapex? How much help do you usually get from Mirapex? If you have PD does it completely control the symptoms if you are on the right dose?

[This message has been edited by mom212 (edited 09-12-2003).]

Kimianne · 09-12-2003, 07:12 AM

Welcome to the boards

My dad has just recently been diagnoised with PD and I am still learning about it. So I am not much of a help.

However, Bruce and Googy are very knowledgeable on the subject. And maybe they can help you.

Keep your chin up. Take care.

God bless you.

------------------
Kimi
Life is a gift. Your loved ones are the benefits.
Respect them both and you will reap the rewards.

mom212 · 09-12-2003, 03:32 PM

Thank you. I hope someone can answer my questions. I called the Dr.s office yesterday but haven't had a return call yet.
I thought I might add that the Dr. did not say that he was thinking PD. He never mentioned the word. He scheduled me for a repeat EMG and glucose test. He said that I would probably then need to have a lumbar puncture,which has never been done. The first neuro I saw did a EMG and it was normal. The second who was a MS specialist did Mri's but not the spinal fluid. He is the one that gave me Amantidine, he said for dystonia and then sent me to the movement disorder specialist. I couldn't tolerate the side affects of the Amantidine and stopped it after 10 days. On the eighth day I had started seeing some symptom relief though. This MDS Dr. said that it is not dystonia and that he wants to rule out Stiffman syndrome and Issacc's. I had never heard of either. I think he may have just thrown those two things out because he knew I wouldn't know anything about them....I didn't know anthing about PD other than that it causes tremors until getting the Amantidine and reading about it's use for PD. The MDS gave me two prescriptions, Mirapex to try first, if it didn't help I was to try Ativan. I only find where Mirapex is used for restless leg syndrome and Parkinsons. Does anyone know of other uses? I have read about restless leg syndrome and I'm pretty sure that's not the answer.
One benefit I have seen from the Mirapex is that I can turn my head to look over my shoulder while driving. For some time now I have had to turn my whole body. I am still getting some muscle cramping, but not the very painful charlie horse ones I was getting several times a day. My toes and arches would curl. My fingers would cramp up in all directions and my hand would fold over with cramps. Just stirring a pot of soup or peeling vegetables would cause this. Driving would often cause feet cramps and sometimes I just couldn't hold the gas pedal or brake down. I couldn't have driven at all without cruise control to give me a break. I would have to pull over and get out of the car to stand up and work out the cramps before continuing to drive. This has not happened since taking the Mirapex. I did have one afternoon the first week with painful feet cramping for a few hours. It would be one foot then the other and then both! This time I was at home and my teenage daughters took turns massageing out the cramping.
If I ever get the doctor or even his nurse on the phone I plan to ask them point blank if he is considering that this may be PD. Thank you for any advice or insight you may have to offer. Blessings, Sharon

[This message has been edited by mom212 (edited 09-12-2003).]

Bruce · 09-12-2003, 07:19 PM

Sharon, i posted a message earlier, but it is gone now. Maybe i have been banned.

Bruce

mom212 · 09-12-2003, 09:31 PM

I hope not. I did a search and read everything that had been posted about Mirapex. I also found a post on another board today about Mirapex. I can't ask questions on that board since they don't accept my hotmail address for registration. I have not been able to find any other active board. Thank you for your effort anyway. Maybe whoever may have banned you has some help or advice. I didn't hear from the Dr.'s office today and am considering increasing the Mirapex slowly anyway.
I can't remember when I had more than 3-4 hours sleep at night. I can't sleep during the day at all. The first two weeks the mirapex made me very drowsy during the day. That has worn off now and I am very wide awake during the day, but dead tired! It has been strange how the feet cramps start at the same time each morning. I take the Mirapex around 11 or 12 and am up by 3, give or take a half hour. I cannot go back to sleep. I did double the dose tonight. I also think I need another dose in the late afternoon. Have any of you done this without consulting with your doctor? Remember, I don't know if this is PD something else. Will Mirapex harm you if you have another disease? I have never had to take meds for anything before, other than Ibuprophen and an occasional antibiotic . So taking this brain medicine is scary. Thank you and blessings, Sharon