Requip

 I have had PD about 9 years, I am 51. Only sinemet seems to help. I take 6 25/100 tablets per day. My 'on' time is minimal and my 'off' time is  terrible since lately the unaffected side of my body is regressing. I am sore, stiff and even driving is very hard because of loss of balance/coordination. On a good day I may be 'on' three-four times per day for an hour each time. I've tried mirapex, comptan, stalevo, neither helps increase 'on' time or levels out and smooths my transition from on to off.

 My doc wants me to start Requip. I am reluctant because of bad reviews I have read in various forums. Is Requip known for helping with 'on' time, or am I only left with the option of more or stronger doses of carbidopa-levo?  DBS may be a future option but the procedure scares me. Thanks for any Requip advice.

 

i couldn't handle requip but requip xl is easy to take - regular requip makes me shaky and fatigued Up your carb/levo to 150 (talk to your doc) I take 150 5x/day - i used to do stalevo but it takes too long to recover from off periods the requip xl softens the on/off issues (extended release over 24 hours - 1 pill!)

I was diagnosed 9 1/2 years ago - symptoms 2-3 years before. Am 53. I took Requip from the beginning and now Requip XL 12 mg daily. I like the Requip XL once a day vs Requip every 3 hours. I tended to have some 'yawn time' 20-30 minutes after taking Requip. I don't feel that as much with Requip XL.

 

I don't know about Requip and Sinemet/Stalevo/Levadopa  <-- haven't done it.

 

I think yekkimo/Ed's advise is good. I'm all about appropriate timing of meds and food ... can make a dif. Am also a HUGE proponent of RIGOROUS exercise for people with Parkinson's <-- may be neuro-protective.

 

Glen, to answer your question ... it can take several weeks to titrate up/down to the level of Requip that is appropriate for you. Then takes a couple+ weeks on that dosage to determine whether is most beneficial. I'd try to be patient. What are the alternatives?!? I do commend your doc for starting you on a dopamine agonist such as requip.

Can meds take away the tremor and pain? I have tremor, but no pain. My meds take away the tremor. I would assume one could get pain meds to take away all the pain - Requip is not intended to address pain issues. I'd talk to your neuro if the pain is bothersome (and it sounds like it is).

 

Again, I hope your doc titrated you up over time from 6-12 mg of Requip. Can't remember whether I mentioned this but when I reached the level of Requip that was satisfactory in the beginning, Requip caused me to lose my appetite for about 6 weeks and lose 10 pounds. At the time I didn't want to lose more than 10 pounds and was becoming concerned. Then I quit losing. (Today I would love to lost about 10 pounds!)

 

As for answering questions from newbies ... that's what this Forum is about! Glad you found it and hope you get your questions answered. Please keep the questions coming to the site.

Glen2862
I had symptoms for about 2 years before being formally diagosed last Ocober. First neuro prescribed sinemet. It did not fix all the symptoms, especially tremors. Artane fixed the tremors. I didn't like the short and long term side effects if sinemet. Switched to another neuro who is a movement specialist. He agreed with me that sinemet is not the best place to start because of the side effects. Switched to Azilect once a day. Did not completely stop tremors. One Artane early afternoon stops tremors the rest of the day and next morning. Azilect has been shown to slow down the progression of PD as well as help with symptoms. With so many other options to try, why start with sinemet?

Yes, Azilect is extremely expensive.

Dan