carbidopa-levodopa bad results

I would like to hear about bad results and side effects from C-L such as tremors, posture, facial expression, balance, reflexes, daytime sleepiness and anything else. Please include age, how long you have been taking C-L, dosage, dosage increases, other medications, etc.

Thanks
Dan

Hi Dan,
My mother has been taking various forms of C-L for almost 30 years. She will be 84 in May. I do not know the dosages, but she is now on Stalevo 200, having just switched from the 150 about a year ago.  She takes 6 a day, one every 3 hours, then an additional one in the middle of the night if she wakes up. Her side effects are minimal, unless she takes the one in the middle of the night for several days straight. If she takes it, her Dyskinesia and Punding get really bad. She will grimace, twist her head continually, smack her lips, drool orange, and not sleep much. She has never really had much trouble with balance. The good effects far outweigh the bad ones, in that they make her comfortable, and she is unaware of the bad side effects. It is just difficult for us to see her that way.  If it gets really bad, I try to stay with her until she sleeps through the night and doesnt have to take that 7th pill.

Hope this helps.

Dan,I have been on stalevo since it was first introduced 10 or so years ago.Before that I was on sinemet,and mirapexfor about 5 yrs.Yes I have been on one form or another of C-L for 15 years.Without C_L I could not function.It enables me to carry on most of my daily activities,and I'm sure that it has delayed progression of this disease.I'm not trying to imply that this drug is for anyone else.Just that it has worked for me.Any given drug will react differently with each individual.One mistake made by many is not giving the drug enough time to truly find out if it helps.Many get discouraged after a couple of days of feeling lousy,as your system gets use to the drug,and quit taking it.I am also 70,and wonder when a symptom is pd or just aging.Wish you the best.If you start on C-L,and want some tips on how to increase the benefits.Give me a shout.Ed

Dan
With CL i get about 2+ hrs of on time.With Stalevo I get another hr of on time.Ed