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Requip and Alcohol

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Posted 2/10/2009 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
My husband has just been started on Requip. The neuro spent ages talking about side effects but never mentioned alcohol. Now the blurb in the box of tablets says avoid alcohol. Does this mean he's going to be deprived of the odd glass of wine with dinner? As yet he hasn't told anyone about the diagnosis as he can't cope with sympathy or anybody checking what he can or can't do. Would like to know what others have found.
Posted 2/13/2009 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
 Hi sherwood, I suppose that an individuals takee on krapinsons is about the same as the buggers take on us - it's different for all of us even though we are all in the same boat, and the $64000 question is who do we tell and when never mind the why. I suppose we all have to weigh up our reasons for not informing if that is the tack we choose to take. Personally I made he decision that from day one I would inform people I came into contact with and fro a number of reasons not least because when I talk my tremor becomes more pronounced and I didn't want people having conversations staring at the chaos at the end of my arm. I also see it as a way of challengig people's sterotypes of what krapinsons is all about.  ie we are all a bunch of quivering sobbering oldies - we are clearly not and the norms need to acknowledge this.

Sod sympathy - you only get so much before eyes start to glaze over if you go on too long. 

As for the labeling and alcohol - since when did a drug have alabel that encouraged drinking alcohol with it. Generally all it means is that somewhere someone has reported a reaction to the drug when taken with/before/after a drop of the malt and barley.  hELLI fell asleep there sn d it is nealry time to get up so \i better egt to bed.

regards

 

The Bear

Posted 2/13/2009 1:35 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Bear, Thanks for your views. Mainly thanks for helping to look at things from a different angle - I love Krapinsons!! Well I guess we will be having a glass of bubbly on Valentine's Day and wait to see if he turns green and bursts out of his shirt!

Sherwood.

Posted 2/14/2009 7:53 AM (GMT 0)
HAVE ONE ON ME 'ROBIN'

BEAR
Posted 2/18/2009 5:35 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Sherwood, I do not know that I particularly love my Parkinsons Disease but I know we are all blessed.  Despite what I appear to be at times on the outside, 12 years of PD has made me a much stronger and better person. 

Regarding requip and mirapex I would not recommend dopamine agonists to anyone.  Agonists block the post synaptic receptors in the brain so the brain counters by producing more receptor cells and  flooding the cns with dopamine...I imagine the feeling at high doses become much like LSD (also classified as dopamine and seratonin...sp? agonist)  as the agonist wears-off the blocked receptors become available and the brain counters by destroying the extra receptor cells ...the brain destroying its own cells...yes this is the most painful physical withdraw.

The best rule of thumb is "start low and go slow".  And remember as with most drugs including wine (a "depressant") the good feelings usually come from the brains counter activities. 

Anything that helps you / him relax is a good thing.  In my experience a glass or two is not a problem.  Consider most of the Rx warnings say that drinking may make side effects such as dizziness worst.      

   

Posted 2/18/2009 5:53 PM (GMT 0)

 Thanks. He did have just a glass of prosecco and thoroughly enjoyed it. It makes a meal an 'occasion' doesn't it, a glass of wine. His neuro must agree with you as he is only on 0.5mg three times a day. Started on 0.25 for a week and adds 0.25 until he is on 2mg provided no side effects. Sinemet alone did nothing except make all symptoms worse, this Requip has given him slightly more fine movement control. He couldn't write and it was awful for him but he is able to write a few lines now, also stirring a cup was hard and that is better. Will wait and see. Everyone one here seems to have such different reaction to drugs and it seems to take a while to get the fine tuning doesn't it. I won't say it's made us strong but Oh Boy do we live for today now. Does anyone know anything about Mucuna Pruriens? Supposed to be a herbal form of dopamine that doesn't cause dyskinesis.

Posted 2/18/2009 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
I have not heard of Mucuna Pruriens but I have had mixed results with Fava beans which are also a lipo based amino acid protein like dopamine.    I have found smoking helps as well.  Mostly because it aids in relaxation, digestion and the habitual act of breathing (most parkies forget to breath).  Smoking also creates carbon monoxide as a by product which is a non specialized nuerotransmitter and may make up for a "lack" of dopamine.  

     

Posted 2/21/2009 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Sherwood,
If you are keeping up with the chat board, you know I am newly diagnosis.
I decided to tell people I had PD because Michael J Fox made it a socially acceptable condition to have. My limited experience is people stop starring at my hand and their face relaxes. They instead look a my face/eyes and pay attention to the conversation. Give it a try. Experiment.

gypzchild
Posted 2/22/2009 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks gypzchild. We were only talking about Michael Fox last night and how much good he has done for PD sufferers. We have decided to tell people as the opportunity comes up but not our elderly parents. We have found in the past they have required so much support to deal with problems they wear us out and selfishly we are saving our energy for us! In some ways my husband seems better now he knows for sure what it is and I am kinder and more patient as I honestly thought it was stress and was cross he wouldn't ease up in work! Happily he has just been able to retire so we can enjoy ourselves - we are so lucky it hit him late and we've been able to do so many things that people diagnosed younger must miss out on. I honestly think that within 10 years research will have come up with better treatments. Here's hoping!
Posted 2/23/2009 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
I would first like to address the initial question of drinking alcohol when taking Requip. I have taken Requip - and only Requip - for 7 years. I drink alcohol in moderation on a regular basis. I have never had an issue when taking Requip and drinking alcohol.

 

Secondly, I would like to address the comment about a newbie taking an agonist. I disagree with the comment that a newbie should not take a dopamine agonist. Evidently many neurologists and movement disorder specialists (MDS) also disagree because Mirapex and Requip are widely prescribed as an initial medication for PD. Today Azilect, which is not a dopamine agonist, is also widely prescribed. All are often preferred over Sinemet for younger folks who have a long-term medical treatment program - save Sinemet for 'later'.

 

Granted, everyone's symptoms and responses to medications are different. You are your best advocate. Know your body. Talk to your neuro/MDS. Take charge of you. Nobody knows you like you do. Take an active role in your treatment.

 

lizzy4451

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