HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Stalevo vs Sinemet

Support Forums
>
Parkinson's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/13/2012 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
I havent been on here in a while. After being on Sinemet for a little over a year, with limited success, my MDS has decided to take me off it and try Stalevo to try to reduce off times.  Wondering if anyone else has made this switch and if it made any kind of difference.  Have been taking fairly high dosage of sinemet 25/100, two pills every four hours along with daily azilect.  Still experiencing signifigant off times so hopeful stalevo is successful
Posted 12/14/2012 2:31 AM (GMT 0)

Hello Colt

I felt like I needed to add something to my meds and tried sinemet 25/100. It seemed to make me feel "out of it". Just a short time after starting sinemet we went to Indianapolis (Indy) and Louisville KY. If I took a sinemet in the morning I was never sure where I was on the roads. I felt lost. I always know where north is, but not then. After it wore off in the afternoon I was fine. No more sinemet, went to Requip (Ropinirole 3mg x 3). It seems to be making a difference. Only problem is after the morning pill I feel nauseated. Eating makes it worse. It is something I hope will pass. The afternoon and evening doses do not make me nauseated. Go figure..... 

Here's hoping Stalevo works for you.

Wonder why my neuro said Requip and yours Stalevo. 

Dan

Posted 1/17/2013 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
Stalevo is way stronger than Sinemet. If you can swallow it whole to reap the benefits then go for it. My mom has to have it crushed and it's not the best thing for her but she still lasts longer than on Sinemet so nothing more than I can about it for now.
Posted 1/23/2013 3:49 AM (GMT 0)

Bella,

What about Parcopa?  From their website .... 'Parcopa® (carbidopa-levodopa orally disintegrating tablets), is a unique formulation of carbidopa-levodopa that dissolves rapidly on the tongue.'

 

Dan,

Were you recently in Indy? Did you visit Rock Steady Boxing? Any plans to return to Indy?

 

lizzy4451

Posted 1/23/2013 3:53 AM (GMT 0)
It gave my mom bad breath and she lost 2 teeth as a result. It's got saccarin in it. She also would lose steam much quicker than when she's on Stalevo.
Posted 1/23/2013 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
lizzy
Yes I was in Indy at the speedway museum. No furher plans to return. Why do you ask?

Dan
Posted 1/23/2013 4:55 AM (GMT 0)

Bella,

OK. Always good to be aware of your options. Sorry to hear she had a not-so-positive experience with Parcopa. As you know, different medications work differently for different people with Parkinson's.

 

Dan,

I ask because ... 1) I live in the neighborhood and it would be great to meet you ... 2) Indy is the home of Rock Steady Boxing (RSB), a non-contact, boxing-based fitness program for people with Parkinson's disease. We have PD folks come to Indy just to visit RSB. If you are ever in town/Indy, I would strongly encourage you to observe a PD class at RSB. It's inspiring! 

 

Not sure whether I can include links here, but go to www.youtube.com and search on 'Rock Steady Boxing'.  (RSB is a 501(c)3 non-profit.) The one titled 'The Battle' tells the story of RSB.  Both NBC and ABC national  did stories on RSB a few years ago. Those videos are also there, among others.

 

I am a believer in the benefits of rigorous exercise for people with Parkinson's!

lizzy4451 

Posted 1/23/2013 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
lizzy
Yes, exercise is a necessity. My main exercise is table tennis (ping-pong). I play daily against myself with my table in playback position. It is a real workout. It is true exercise. I don't think repetitive exercise is as good as what we do.
I have told my story many times. I started playing TT a few weeks after diagnosis. One evening I hit the ball to my left. I am right handed. I switched the paddle to my left hand and returned the ball. It was a natural reflex. I had never held a paddle in my left hand. I was immediately as good left hand as right. I use both hands when I get to play a real opponent.

Dan
Posted 3/3/2013 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
Dan
Some time ago you asked why a your Dr. prescribed Requip and another Dr. prescribed Stalevo for his patient. My neuro started me on Requip XL (then my ins. wouldn't pay for it so I had to go on Requip 3x a day) instead of Sinemet or Stalevo becase of my age. I was diagnosed when I was 51, I'm now 54. According to my Dr. if I were older he would have put me on Levodopa right away. But since I'm not, and I have young children (5 and8), he put me on Requip. The reason for this is because they have found that after long term use of Levodopa (10+ years) there can be permanent undeairable side effects. Unfortunately, I have had side effects from the Requip, namely major swelling in my right leg which then resulted in a severe case of cellulitis for which I spent 8 days in the hospital. I'm still recovering from it, but the Dr. immediately took me off the Requip and went through Sinemet to Stalevo. Now I have an extreme pain in my right thigh that often wont let me stand straight up. Next up is an appt with another neuro he's referring me to, to discuss DBS.
Anyway, main reason appparently why for one ptient it's Requip and another it's Levodopa, is age. Best of luck to you.
Posted 3/9/2013 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
Actually Requip is an agonist and is often given at the beginning of PD because levo gets a bad wrap for abuse later on. It mimics dopamine without having it be actual dopamine. My mom takes both (Mirapex and stalevo) in order to stop the shakes and have more flexible movements. Mirapex is an agonist and Stalevo has levo with entacapone.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply