Co Q10

Steve

I have spend a far bit of time investiagting CoQ10 in the last couple of weeks and like you can find no other study reports since 2002.
I am interested in it for its reported help with fatigue, do you think it has helped you in this regard and where do you get it and how much do you pay?

Chris

Thanks for the feedback Steve. I wish I could run 1 mile a day!

Tusse,

Co Q10 is a vitamin, dietary over the counter supplement called CoEnzyme Q10. If you search the web, you will find a 2002 study which indicated some positive results in slowing the progression of PD. The study sample group was small however and the study has not been replicated since. My Dr. thinks it is worth taking it in case it helps. I take 1200 mg a day which is what the study group took. Hope this helps.

please email me  [email protected]

Steve

Have just tried the www.chron.com link and it says article is not there anymore, I also tried the archive. I saw it in Feb 2006 and printed a copy so if you want to read it post your email address and I'll scan it and send it to you.

Chris

My 78-year old husband was just diagnosed with PD and the neurologist prescribed Sinemet, saying that once he begins taking it, my husband needs to be totally on board and take it precisely at the prescribed intervals for the rest of his life because if he skips any dose or stops at any time his symptoms (balance and walking problems, slow speech, writing deteriorated)  he will shortly be worse than he was in the beginning.  Didn't some of you in this forum begin with Sinemet and then get taken off it, which is contrary to what this specialist said was possible?

He so frightened us that we did some research and came upon CoQ10.  Has anybody opted for this in lieu of Sinemet with acceptable results?  We want to be sure what we are going before putting all those Sinemet chemicals into his body (which is already being bombarded with prescriptions for hypertension and diabetes 2).

Thanks.

gulliver,

What the neurologist is trying to say is that in order for your husband's symptoms to improve and remain at a reduced level, he must take the sinemet at the times that the doctor has told him to take it, for example...8am, 12pm, 5pm. If he misses a dose, because he is feeling better, after the medication he had previously taken is depleted in his body, his symptoms will be back and will take a bit longer in time to once again be at a reduced rate, presuming he takes his medicine again. If he decides to stop taking his meds for whatever reason, his symptoms will return.

A good analogy is a car. In order for the car to run, it needs gas. If there is no gas in its tank, it is not going to run. Once you fill the tank up, it runs and can continue running until the gas tank is empty. Once the tank is getting close to running empty, it is prudent on your part to fill it up before it runs out or else it will stop running and leave you stranded. The same thing with Sinemet. It is the fuel that makes your husband's body move better and brings it back to its norm. By taking the sinemet at the times the doctor has instructed, his body will continue moving at his new normal, skipping a dose or stopping it altogether means the fuel's run out and the body goes back to it's symptomatic state.

If he has adverse side effects, or there is some other need to stop, he must call his doctor first and discuss what is going on. IF it is necessary, he will take him off and put him on another medication.

Do not be frightened. My mother was diagnosed at 75 years of age and was also started on Sinemet. She did so well, she thought she was cured, and did well for a long time as long as her meds were on time. It may take up to 3 weeks for your husband to feel at his optimal, but he should be sleeping really well already.

CoQ10 does help some, but have to take a large dose. there has been one study done with a specific type of coQ10 a water soluble type that at doses above 1200mg, some got some relief of symptoms. I used it with my mother but more for cardiac reasons. Since it is a supplement on not prescribed, Medicare does pay for it. There is no effort to get it reimbursed that I know of, since there has only been one study with iffy results. Meidcare would need a whole lot more viable results to provide reimbursments.

Wow brainstorm, thank you so much for your timely, informative and comforting response.  So helpful as this is all brand new to us.

Thanks again.

Gulliver