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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Has anyone stopped taking Mirapex?

normac2
normac2
I've been taking Mirapex for over 3 yrs. and have experienced weight gain. ? compulsive eating ? Also ? overusing computer and shopping--?
My Neurologist has discontinued the mirapex over a two week period and now I'm experiencing cramping and twisting of my feet , increased tremor in both arms along with other muscle spasms. I'm in the second week of cutting out the mirapex. Also, Comptan has been added to my meds at the same time. My neurologiist is out of town, it's Friday and I can't stand it any longer.... HELP!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hey normac! I took Mirapex for about 9 years. I did develope a compiulsive habit to paint everything and anything in my house...I blamed it on boredom or made irrational reasons why I needed to paint something. I did have some nightmares, but for most of the 9 years it was ok. HOWEVER, a few months ago I had to switch to sinemet b/c Mir was not working 4 me anymore. (It took forever to take effect and it wasn't all that great when it was on). Ever since the switch my tremors are much more intense!! It's been a month without Mirapex and in between my sinemet doses I shake more than I ever had. I hear you went back to Mirapex?? Were you able to ever get off it??
deleted_user
deleted_user
I weaned myself off mirapex a couple years ago, following Dr's directions because of swelling in my legs and ankles. The tremors were so bad that all of a sudden approximately a day after last dose of mirapex I told my husband to take me to a hospital I'm dying as he tried to calm me down ( and this is from my patchy memory ) I went into like a very bad place in my head where I was so despondent and I knew I would never get better and I tried to will myself into dying. I couldn't reach either of my Dr's for 2 days when I finally got a call from my nuerologist. During those 2 days my husband stayed in bed holding me while I begged God and my deceased love ones to come for me. I planned how to kill myself
it was worse than physical pain. My Dr. said to immediately go back on the mirapex which I did and almost immediatly I emerged from that place. I'm on half the dosage now and terrified of trying to go off. I have the pulling of the feet and hammer toes and mainly on the left side, my hand stiffins and pain in leg and hand. Very hard to type. Pray for a cure. Betty
deleted_user
deleted_user
I started taking Mirapex and was having trouble with falling asleep with NO WARNING while driving - I have switched to slow release or extended release and take it in the morning and that problem has completely gone away. Taking just Sinemet alone caused me terrible dyskenesia.
Anyone reading this needs to know that medications effect everyone differently. this med CHANGED my life ! I was so depressed before I started it ( I had only 2 or 3 hours of "good-on time " in a WHOLE day - now I feel "normal" almost all of the time-
since I went to the slow release- NO side effects !
I am a recovering addict BTW ( 6 years sober) and have also not had ANY compulsive behavior problems either.