I picked this from another forum, cause it mentions a "Rapid Madopar" which seems to help with "off" times, if you can get it:
Quote:
"Madopar & Sinemet
Are basically the same , and in this household we have used both.
Having said that:
1) We have found Sinemet to be the med of choice over the years (22 now).
2) When my husband had a Bi Lateral Pallidotomy in the UK in 96, they only had Madopar available, and we purchased a 3 month supply for a small fortune, as they were not available downunder at that time. When we did get home he switched back to Sinemet, but see-sawed between both to use the supply we had paid so much for. They were available in Australia soon after!
3) Soon after they released Madopar Rapid here as well, and he has found this med to have a much shorter lead in time, (with a much shorter "lasting" factor).
We have used Rapids on and off for years now, as an adjunct to Sinemet!
3) Currently we have real sucess using Rapids with Sinemet when a "hit" is needed! Obviously the first of the morning, a couple of times during the day when he feels he needs a kick start or the 2 hourly Sinemet has worn off early, or when the pill giver has a lapse of memory and is more than 20 mins late one is given with the 2 hour half Sinemet 250 mg, and finally, last at night, with 2 CR's, to lift the levels to where the CR's might stay effective for a longer period! (up to 8 hours)
I have no doubt that is means he is getting too much Levadopa, but by this stage, dyskinesia is funnily enough not as much a problem as it once was. Of course that too could change to-morrow, as it has many times, and we would change again. Timing is the crucial factor, with all Levadopa, as I am sure you well know. Basically he has a Madorpar Rapid when he asks/needs one, and he is given the choice of that or an Apomine shot, and he decides. But never more than 3 of one or the other during any one 24 hr period as fillers.
Madopar Rapid lasts longer than Apomine, but takes longer to kick in, but not as long as Sinemet.
I assume too that you can access Madopar Rapid, which is how it works for us."
End quote
Post Edited (pdinfo) : 7/11/2005 9:41:25 PM (GMT-6)