Will,
I'm not familiar with it myself, but it seem that all the PD meds have some sort of side effects. Some you can push through or learn to deal with, and others you need to stop and try something different.

I was put on Sinermet for my PD and felt like crap for the first few weeks. So bad that I stopped taking it for awhile. My Nero told me I needed to take it, so I went back on it. After a few more weeks I started getting used to it, and now it doesn't bother me hardly at all. It seems that everybody reacts differently to these meds.

I'd say for you to give it a try and see if it helps? Worse thing that could happen is that you'll need to try something different. Hopefully someone here will chime in who is on Neupro and can help you better to decide .

Thanks oldnslow!!

Judoguy, Helllo The gold standard medicine for PD is sinamet generic carbo levo dopa. Some neurodocs hold off on prescibing it because it has a limited usefulness. people develop resistence to it and need more and more. It is very good at controling tremors but to much can cuase dyscaniesias. Jerky uncontrlled body movements. The neupro has the same type of medicine as mirapex and requip. They both can control tremors well but have the side effect of compullsive behaviors, like gambling,sex eating computers. I hope tthis helps. These are just my oppinions. Learn what you can ABOUT the different meds available and work with your neurologist. good luck and good health Alex

Thanks Alex! Much appreciated!

I think a lot of side effects get included to avoid lawsuits. Both standard Sinemet and the dopamine agonist I was on listed compulsive gambling as a possible side effect, for instance. In reading up on it, it appears someone successfully sued a company for causing compulsive gambling, but there have been few, if any, other incidents of it. So some of those side-effects represent a very small % of affected people, but they list it to keep from getting sued over it.

On the Sinemet, I had practically zero side-effects. No nausia or excessive drowsiness to speak of, two of the most common. But using the dopamine agonist, for the first week I battled some dizziness, but that cleared up. But I had a persistent drowsiness that I just got used to being there. After a while I didn't notice it as much, but I always felt sort of minimally sedated most of the time. But it did help the symptoms.

So, yeah, all you can do is give it a try and see what happens. Give it a couple weeks unless you end up with some dangerous side effects.

Hey Judoguy,
I've been wearing the Neupro 8 mg. patch for about a year now. I don't notice any side effects. I started with the 2 mg., then up to the 4 mg. and now the 8 mg. patch. That's as high as it goes.
You change it every 24 hrs.
The only thing is that you can have irritated skin where the patch has been, so a light rubbing of hydrocortisone cream can help. It's not a huge problem.
I had DBS in Sept. of 2013 -- I still wear the Neupro patch though my Sinemet 25/100 mg. tabs have been cut to 1 every 3 hrs -- making it 5 a day. I used to take 2 pills every few hours throughout the day.
Beaniesu in Houston

Thank You Cole50 and Beaniesu for your advise! It was very informative and reassuring! will

Hi I don't know much about the patch. I have recently started azilect and it has changed my life. I was freezing many times throughout the day and felt that my life was out of control. Everyone reacts differently to these meds and I would not hesitate to try an alternative medication even with the possible side effects. What works for one person can be totally different for some one else. Good luck and let us know if you have any success with the patch.

Hi Will, I've been on the Neupro Rotigotine 24hr patch since 2007, I was started on 2mg strength and then after a while increased to 4mg strength and still on that now.

I take this along with other pd meds and my Neuro has said it's a very fine line regarding meds, a fine balancing act.... I have had pd 20 years and have experienced some stressful and traumatic episodes. As we are all different in regards to how it effects us and how different meds effects us, it can be trial and error.

I've found that skin soreness caused by the adhesive on the quite irritating, and they don't stick very well at times too, I use Micropore tape to make sure they stay on.... If one falls off don't re-apply the one that's fallen off, apply a new one as soon as you realise. I found that I tolerate the 4mg dose very well, but just recently they increased it to 6mg by adding a 2mg patch to place along side the 4mg, but it made me feel quite unwell so I removed to 2mg and carried on with the 4mg.

I wish you well Will..... Dirky ?;O))

Hi Judoguy, My neurologist had me try the patch two different times. I was diagnosed in 2006. I tried the Neuro patch then without any good results. Main problem was where ever I placed one. I would break with a rash. He had me try it again last summer. It affected my balance to where I would fall just standing still. Plus other side effects. Hope you have better luck.

Judo, By now you are probably having your own experience with the patch. I have been on 2 mg using it regularly since July 2014. I had a hard time with the 2 mg at first - it made me sick. Nauseous and tired all the time. But it really helps with the stiffness in my legs at night so much that I hung in there and after at the most 2 months the side effects ended. I notice though that if I forgot to put a patch on each morning by the afternoon I start going through withdrawal symptoms such as stiffness in my mouth and all over. As I am a very c/o person I do not plan to go too high in mg with the patch.

In regard to where to put it the patch my best spots are around my hips and lower stomach, back of neck and upper arms. I have accidentally put it on before my shower and it still sticks to my body the rest of the day as long as I am careful with it. I always hold it 30 seconds like it says to do. Only a couple of times have I had to put a band aid over it to hold it.

Hope it works out with you too!!!

Thanks for the info on the patch!

Yes, I forgot one other thing. The patch can burn your skin!! I like hot showers and if I have it on my upper areas especially of my upper stomach and chest and the water is hot - I get a burning sensation and when it starts burning it does not stop so I have to take it off and put a new one on somewhere else . The same with going in the sun and it is exposed to the sun.

At about age 42? I began symptoms. I am 59. There are not very many who have had it that long. I use the generic S i n e m e t with few side effects. There ARE natural things you can use. With a ten thousand dollar deductible on our insurance, I could not afford even one, much less 2 or 3 additional drugs to the tune of 400 or 500 dollars a month! That's like a HOUSE PAYMENT Sheesh...

I have so far resisted the rotigotine patch. I drove to my Doc appt, 200 miles round trip last month. I had a friend ride Shotgun. The danger of falling asleep with absolutely NO NOTICE do I hear Narcolopsy? would mean I would REFUSE TO DRIVE AND PUT people at risk for heavens sake, so inasmuch as I was not wanting to stop driving, I'm sticking with what I use now. I would be happy to talk with you after Monday. My son is home for a few days.

We NEED to keep asking Q and keep learning and searching.

God bless you and all of us.

Judo, thanks for posting. Lots of good information and experiential information, which I always appreciate. The one thing I've noticed about my early stage of PD is when I get tired, I get worse (and cranky, not my normal nature). I think part of the frustration is trial and error on the meds. It would be nice if "one size fits all" worked! Good luck in your journey -- if you hate the med, be sure to let your doc know why and specifically what so they can do better with a next try if they need one. It seems we spend a lot of time educating the docs!