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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deleted_user 12/15/2012

Hello All ...

I've bee here quite a while. Amantadine and later Sinemet are the only drugs I've t aken. They wanted about 300.00 mo. for Azilect or Mirapex.

I'd like comments of results and side effects of drugs other than sinemet. I'll see my Neuro. soon and he will let me add whatever drug I choose pretty much. Mirapex has a bad reputation. Any help you can give me ?

also..approx cost..

deleted_user 12/17/2012

Hi WWW,

Sorry I have made you sound like a web-site.

I can't help on the prices of meds as the UK it is all free but I can offer my own med experience, limited as it is. I'll message you.

Julie

PSullivan 12/17/2012

Mirapex is costly but it worked for me till i developed some compulsive behavior and he took me off... So he increased the sinemet which i wasn't too happy about. Then I started the neupro patch (and i'm sure that's costly too but my insurance helps on that one) and i am having wonderful success on it. I was able to decrease my sinemet which was my goal... Good luck to you!!!

CMstanding 12/17/2012

Started on Selegiline this summer. Its suppose to be similar to Azilect or the other way around as Selegiline has been around longer. Its a lot cheeper so is the one my HMO will cover.

It has not done anything for my symptoms - but the Dr. didn't think it would. Tremors on my left side are my worst symptoms right now. The Selegiline is for its possible neuro protector qualities. My next step on the meds ladder will be one of the agonists, but holding out as long as possible.

One of the side effects of Selegiline (and benefit) is it has a stimulent effect. Good during the day - not so good at night. Other than that - no other side effects that I have noticed.

deleted_user 12/18/2012

I've been on Azilect since March when I was diagnosed. At this point I've only experienced occasional light tremoring in left hand and foot. Azilect hasn't stopped it but it hasn't gotten any worse. I guess that's supposed to be one it's main advantages is hoping to stop progression.
I too am trying to hold out on taking anything else until I really feel I need more relief.

Interesting that CM mentions the stimulant effect. I've always been an avid morning exerciser and before the Azilect had noticed I was for the first time starting to experience a lot of fatigue that was affecting my workouts. The Azilect seems to have helped me a lot with that and luckily I haven't had a sleeping problem yet.

No other side effects for me. I'm fortunate to have insurance that reduces my cost to $105 fo a 90 day supply.

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