Stalevo question for Yekkimo

Hi Yekkimo,

I was going over my notes and printout from this forum and saw that you said you would take half a Stalevo when needed. I have often wanted to try that for my mom but was afraid since the drug maker said no splitting in half but then again I crush it for my mom since she refuses to swallow any meds without first chewing it up or will let it rot in her mouth. I wanted to know what does the half do for you and why not take a whole one instead? I keep thinking my mom need to be on 4x a day regimen in addition to the Mirapex she's on but I don't know how to space it out properly and if the extra entacapone will be bad for her.

I'm on day 2 of experimenting separating the afternoon dose by having her take stalevo (150mg) only at 1:30pm and then 4 hours later give her the Mirapex (half a .75mg) and then take them both (stalevo 150 & .75mg Mirapex) again when she goes to bed at 8:30. I was told this way she won't get too much all at once so spacing it out this way will make her less rigid and more alert. So far I have not noticed any difference. She is still very sleepy during dinner and rarely can stay up until 8:30pm.

How are you doing now and have you changed your medication since we last spoke? It was August 2008. Thank you!

Thanks for writing back. How do you take .25 of a Stalevo 200? Sounds like your tremors are getting worse with time? Have you wondered that maybe it's because you take so many that you shake more? My mom's neuro once told me that too much can act like you don't have enough.

My mom has also had it for 15ish years. She's 76 and started around 59. The dementia started in 2006 and it just went down hill from there but she no longer have tremors. It's rigidity that is the problem and dyskinesia in her sleep and a few hours here and there that drives me crazy. She acts all high and loopy and sticks her tongue out and moves her head all over the place.

We live in California and starting next month no insurance will cover Stalevo and name brand Mirapex which mom can only take. I don't know what to do in the coming months. I still have some extras that will last about a couple of months and then I have to do some major research.

It is true how all you can't tell if your aches and pains and ill feeling is PD related or not. It's easier to blame it for everything. :)

Ed,

Please tell me how you take .25 Stalevo.

Thanks!