Side effects to Stalevo?

Hi all, wonder if you could offer some advise?

My husband has PD.  Diagnosed 7 years ago.

Meds taken (can't remember all the doses tbh so I do apologise)

1 x Azilect taken first thing

3 x prolonged release Requip (max 21mg dosage daily) specialist has asked him to take them last thing at night but this doesnt really work for him.

1 x Prolonged release Madopar (taken last thing at night) can't remember if this is 150mg or 200mg.

4 x Stalevo 100mg taken at regular intervals throughout the day.

Our question is this, Our life style requires us to be up and on early mornings hence why the consultant wanted him to try the PR's last thing so that he had mobility when he woke.  The consultant took him off Madopar 100mg's as a direct swap to the Stalevo 100mg's about May this year.  This was to see if we could reduce the peak's and troughs.  Ie the sudden change from good function to "not moving well at all".

Initially the side effects were as expected, bright orange wee but, over a period of time, he started to suffer with upset stomach's, then dry mouth, tiredness (extreme) then this got worse to continual diaorhea (probably spelt that wrong) dramatic weight loss (now lost 2 stone).  about 2 months ago we sent a call in to our PD nurse, no reply, more calls lodged, still no replies, calls to consultant and doctors fell on deaf ears too.  However, we recently had a gp locum refer him for an colonoscopy (awaiting results) but they wouldn't let him change meds without the PD consultant agreeing (fair enough).  Consultant still not called, we have even been in to the clinic, PD nurse now apparently off sick with stress (should try being in our shoes). 

How do we get somebody to listen, respond? and has anybody else had similar contra indications to the Stalevo?

Now seriously worried as hubby going down hill really, really quickly.

 

My mom has had Parkinsons for the last 30 years.  She has been taking Stalevo (The 150mg 7 times a day) for about the past 5 years.  She has many side effects from it, including some of the ones mentioned here.  Lately, because she has trouble swallowing, she burps and spits up bright orange stuff.  about the same color as her urine.

It is a great drug, and has given her relief over the years, but it does have its drawbacks, just like most drugs.

30 years IS a long time to have Parkinsons. The only symptom, she has had until recently is tremors. Her doctor has said that people that have severe tremor actually progress slower with the disease than people who have the other symptoms.

Recently she has started having mental clarity issues, as well as swallowing and speech problems. The Stalevo is causing teeth grinding and grimacing on occasion as well. She is 83, with many many health problems, so I cant even say for sure if the mental clarity is from the Parkinsons, other medical problems, or just old age.

Damandblast:

Everyone is different, particularly so with PD, but from my experience, I would suspect Requip might be the problem rather than Stalevo.

I'm in year 8, with tremor the most significant issue. Neurologist started me on Azilect, Requip and Artane in the beginning, ramping up Requip eventually to 8 MG. As it went up, I got worse and worse, with the worst symptom being persistent and severe insomnia, but with a lot of other more minor issues.

Roughly a year ago, Neuro took me off requip completely and started me on Stalevo. That eliminated the insomnia and improved my general health markedly. Don't know what is going on in your case, but I know that in mine Requip was bad news.