I take Azilect with no problems. I don't think it prolongs the sinemet but is supposed to make it work more efficiently. This is all speculation on my part. I have no side effects. I have been on it since Nov. 2010. When I first started taking it all my symptoms but the tremors disappeared but after 6 months they started coming back, especially stiffness so the dr. had me take sinemet with the azilect. I guess when I started taking Azilect in Nov. 2010 my brain was still making some dopamine for the Azilect to make work but then 6 months later no more dopamine so I had to take syntheic dopamine. I started taking Sinemet with the Azilect in Sept. 2011. Teva the makers of Azilect at first touted that a study showed that Azilect slowed down the progression of PD but my dr. said Teva could not support that. I went on Teva's website for Azilect and it doesn't say anything about slowing down progression of PD.

Some people take .5 mg, I was prescribed 1 mg - one pill a day in the morning. The problem with Azilect is that Teva's research and tests revealed that more than 1 mg a day was no more efficient than higher mgs a day, i.e., 2 pills isn't better than 1. Good luck. Let me know if he tells you anything bad about Azilect!!!!

PS- There are lots of food restrictions and cold medicine restrictions maybe that is why your dr. doesn't want you to take it.

deb...from what I've read the food restrictions have been lifted. I can eat blue cheese again!

thanks Deb, i was on azelect but had bad side effects... extreme joint pain and headaches... that's why i wanted him to try me on the slegiline but he won't for some reason ... was just wondering if anyone is having success on that one...

Haven't had any personal experience with these drugs but i have started doing quite a bit of research on PD and the meds available to treat the disease. Just trying to educate myself about this mess we are in. You said that your doc told you that the Neurpro patch would give you the same compulsive disorder that Mirapex did. From what i found, there is a very good chance of that. And then the Selegiline, which slows the breakdown of dopamine is most effective when used in the early stages of PD. So maybe he just thinks it is not worth trying . That the change in meds wouldn't benefit you that much. Has he given you any reasons, good reasons, for not trying these drugs your interested in? It would sure be nice if doctors would just learn to talk to us sometimes. But then they have their Neoro Egos!!!! Good luck settleing this issue .
Joanee

Hi Paula, Several years ago my MDS insisted that I try Selegeline to augent my carbdopa/levodopa. What I really believe is that a big pharma rep had just been to see herbwcause she had enough free sanples for 50 oatients. Guess who ended up with the entire box of samples? Either she liked me, or she saw me as a naive patient, with no pharmacy coverage, who would take the entire box. She told me what it was supposed to do, and sent me on my way with the box of Selegeline samples.

R took them as directed for two weeks. and noticed absolutely no changes at all, plus no side effects. So, not wanring to be "a guinea pig any longer, I threw the remaining ssamples away!

Sorry Paula, I always get confused I think that rasagiline (Azilect) and selegiline are the same thing. I see them grouped together all of the tiime as a MAO type B inhibitor. Maybe the dr. thinks that the selegiline will do the same thing that rasagiline did to you. As my firend says though - until he actually tells you we are just speculating. lol Let me know if he tells you.

JerseyDeb, I am on carbo leva dopa 1 1/2 4 x per day, Selegeline and amantadine 2x per day first and 2nd dose. I have been on this combo for a year and a1/2. I tried the azalect but could not tolorate it at all. it made me feel terrible. Good luck and good health Alex

well... having lost faith in my doc i made an appointment for a consult with another movement disorder specialist at Rush hospital... will let him know all my med concerns and see where he stands on the selegiline.... my thinking is just because azelect gave me side effects i don't think i necessarily will have them with slegeline... and it works for you alex... i say never rule anything out... that's my new motto lol...
thanks all... paula

HisKnobs' post sounds very promising Paula!!!!!