Parkinson's Disease Support Group

Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder often characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement, and in extreme cases, a loss of physical movement. The primary symptoms of Parkinsons are due to excessive muscle contraction, normally caused by the insufficient formation and action of dopamine, which is produced in the dopaminergic neurons of the...

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jjrfvd1 05/14/2009

Wondering if anybody has stopped taking Levodopa since I was told once you start you cannot stop.

Please let me know dosage you were taking and whether you went cold turkey or gradually reduced the dosage

deleted_user 05/14/2009

from www.rxlist.com

Sporadic cases of a symptom complex resembling Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) have been associated with dose reductions and withdrawal of SINEMET. Patients should be observed carefully if abrupt reduction or discontinuation of SINEMET is required, especially if the patient is receiving neuroleptics. (See WARNINGS.)

hobie51 05/15/2009

You can wean off Sinemet just like any other medicine. Contact your MD for information. Best wishes.

deleted_user 05/15/2009

i took sinemet for a week it gave me diskenisia legg tremmors arm , head tremmor, now i am back to me and my right hand shakes

deleted_user 05/16/2009

Yes, many times. My other meds are far less forgiving. Everyone reacts differently, so ask you doctor.

Don.

peachybum 05/18/2009

My question is why do you want to go off sinamet? This has been my first medication (I Live in australia) and l think it is fantastic. Are you suffering from some side effects?

jjrfvd1 05/18/2009

Sinemet has made me dizzy so I am reducing the dosage and this has helped. Since Sinemet eventually wears off I was thinking to see if I can be weened off it completely. I also started some physical exercises which has helped.

deleted_user 06/10/2009

A number of my clients have come of Sinemet, Madopar and a number of other PD drugs (and non-PD drugs). However, they improved their health first by making many changes in their lives (thoughts, diet, meditation, water, exercise +++). This is very important. When the time was right, we reduced their meds VERY SLOWLY, and they were observed by myself and their doctors (if the doctor chose to cooperate).
It is possible to give up any drug, but it must be done VERY SLOWLY, and you must IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH FIRST.
Cheers
John

jjrfvd1 06/10/2009

Your comments were very helpful. I've begun to exercise and have found improvement in my condition.

deleted_user 06/11/2009

My
neorologist
dropped
me
from
3tabs
every
3hours
to
1tab
every
3hours!
terrible
time
adjusting
!!!!!!!

Bridges 06/13/2009

I've read you can't cut it back drastically, that you have to wean off it by reducing it at the rate of 10% less per week.

deleted_user 06/15/2009

DanRuffi1
that was way too quick. Your doctor should know better. He can cause real harm by doing that.
Drugs must be reduced VERY SLOWLY.
Cheers

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