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Alternatives to drugs for Parkinson's

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Parkinson's Disease
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Posted 5/29/2006 2:42 AM (GMT 0)

I am kind of surprised, (memorial day weekend, maybe not a good time) that more people are not interested in alternative therapies to treating parkinson's. Has anyone out there used anything besides prescription drugs, to treat parkinson's?

Posted 5/29/2006 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
Pina, for about 4 years my husband used many herbs and vitamins under the direction of a Neurologist. He also had many hours of Magnetic brain therapy, and slept on a magnetic matress.

However, as every person's disease is an individual disease, we cannot say for certain what contributed to his case of being a slow developing one. At that time, he was very drug intolerant and we were searching for every alternative treatment possible. We do feel that in the early stages it helped, and may have prolonged some symptons developing, but as his symptoms progressed we had to go to "conventional" treatments.

Good luck in your search.
Posted 5/29/2006 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
what herbs have you seen work which help with freezing and also help w/tremors?
Posted 5/29/2006 3:32 PM (GMT 0)

Pina

I too had my thyroid problem treated with radioactive iodine back in the early 70's and been on varying doses of thyroxine ever since.  I have never associated my PD with the thyroid problem simply because the Dr's and  Neuros have not mentioned it.  I was diagnosed about 6 years ago with what started as a pulse like tremor in the left hand.  Since then the tremor has increased but overtime I have taught myself to control it. The thing that sets of my symptoms (which include some uncontrolled mouth movement, impairment to speech, and tremor) is anxiety.  I try to avoid confrontations  and situations that cause anxiety because the self-control I have over these symptoms goes right out of the window. I also have stiff legs if I delay taking the levadopa (sinemet).  Fatigue is never far away.

So a partial answer to one of your questions is yes, I have progressed to more symptoms beyond the simple tremor but they are things, with the help of sinemet,  that I can live with and most people I meet are not aware that I have PD.

I note with great interest the comments by Dr Johnson re the effect long term use of drugs has and know with certainty that several members of the support group I attend put the cause of their dyskinesias down to the PD drugs. Because of this I am reluctant to increase my intake of drugs unless I feel it absolutely necessary.

Try not to worry

BILLY

Posted 5/29/2006 3:56 PM (GMT 0)

Billy, thanks so much for your reply. Have you ever tried just taking iodine for your thyroid? I have not, but my thyroid has been out of control for the past four years. Every endocrinologist I have gone to does not seem to be able to get it under control. It was under control for about 22 years. I guess having parkinson's now, with the thyroid not being under control is worse. I have always battled fatique with the thyroid problem, but have found taking B complex and a good multiple vitamin helps me a lot. I also take some ginseng to get extra energy. I have been more tired lately though. I have had a lot of stress the past fourteen years also. My son was killed in a car accident fourteen years ago. My father (whom I was very close to) died two years later. We had three other children, and the two youngest children had multiple problems after their brothers death. This was due to my husband and I not being able to parent them very well for about six years after our son's death, due to our grief from losing our older son. Then in 2002 my mother was diagnosed with alzheimers and parkinson's. My only sister had colon cancer also. This is just a few things the past four years have brought. So I know stress plays a big part in all illnesses. I have a strong faith, and I know it could always be worse.  Blessings to all of you!!

Posted 5/30/2006 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
hi my name is debbie i have recently been diagnosed with parkinsons i have been on mirapex and i had terrible dreams i have now stopped taking it i take sinemet very sparingly i have inrolled in a study at uc i am trying a new drug rasasiline that is not available to pts until oct i have not received all the paper from uc of cinn. i here it raises your blood pressure i am 47 that is not one of my problems hopefully this will work the nurse said this med stops the cells from dying in your brain this was a phone conversation i am patiently waiting will let you know more thanks debbie
Posted 5/31/2006 12:04 AM (GMT 0)

Hi all,

I also was diagnosed within the the past 18onths.  58 years old and did not tolerate Mirapex very well.  Help with sleep (Ambien CR) got me started in the right direction, but, I still had a bad feeling in my head that increased under stress.  I didn't know what depression and anxiety felt like, I do now.  I got a prescription for Lexapro and it took the edge off the anxiety so I could function.

PD effects everyone differently, but, for all the symptoms that are not considered part of PD, excema, insomnia, constipation, anxiety, etc., and exist because we have PD there are separate treatments we  should treat in addition to any PD meds.

Good Luck

Jerry

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