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Does anyone take azilect & carbidopa/levodopa & entacapone

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Parkinson's Disease
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Posted 6/24/2015 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
My Dad is currently on carbidopa/levodopa 25/100mg CR 2 pills 4 times a day & entacapone 200mg 1 pill 4 times a day.  The neurologist is wanting to put him on azilect .5mg to slow the PD down.  Is anyone out there on this drug combo and what has your experience been?  He has been diagnosed with PD since June 2014.  He is 72 years old and we have been worried about the speed of his progression.
Posted 8/20/2015 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
Lady Vicodin
Azilect by all means. I started with PD symptoms November 2007. Went to a neurologist summer 2008. Gave me cabidopa/levadopa (sinimet). I read that Azilect has been shown to slow the progression of PD. Neuro refused to prescribe Azilect. Went to a movement disorder specialist fall of 2008. He agreed that I should take Azilect only. My symptoms stopped. January of 2014 I thought my reflexes were slowing and added Ropinirole (requip). Fall of 2014 I added carbidopa/levadopa (sinimet). I now take Azilect 1 mg once a day, Ropinirole 1 mg three times a day and carbidopa/levadopa 25/100 three times a day. If I don't tell you I have PD you will never know. I have no tremors or anything else. I play ping-pong, pickleball, work on my classic car and anything else I want to do. PD does not stop me from doing anything I want to do.
I know a couple people that have been taking carbidopa/levadopa and other medications for only two or three years, but not Azilect, and they are terrible. Their symptoms have progressed rapidly.
Azilect is expensive but worth every penny. I credit Azilect with my good condition.
I started with PD symptoms at 63 YO. I am now 71 YO and feel terrific.
Your post was some time ago. I hope you still log on so you will see my comments. Please answer so I will know you are still there.

Sincerely concerned
Dan
Posted 8/20/2015 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
Dan, thank you for your response. I will pass the information on to my parents.
Posted 8/20/2015 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
I just reread your original post. Neurologist recommends .5 mg? 1 mg is the usual dose. Also, I believe .5 mg is more expensive than 1 mg.

Push whoever you need to to get started ASAP.

Dan
Posted 8/20/2015 3:53 PM (GMT 0)

Lady Vicodin,

There often are two (or more) sides to every story. It's good to educate yourself and weigh the pros/cons or benefits/risks in your situation.

 

Polish Dan has felt successful results taking Azilect, which is wonderful. However, there have been studies of Azilect that indicate their/Teva's claims may not be completely accurate. The Michael J. Fox Foundation took a stand on this issue. For more information,  'google' the following:  Michael J. Fox  Azilect 

 

Keep in mind that no two people with Parkinson's are the same - symptoms, response to treatments, etc. What works for one, may not work for another. I'm glad to read that Polish Dan indicates Azilect is working for him.

 

lizzy4451

Posted 8/20/2015 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
lizzy
I also have read that Teva's claim may not be true. However, I have not seen any evidence to that fact. Has anyone on the forum reported that Azilect did not work for them? Has it caused any harm? True, it may not work for everyone, but it cannot work if you don't try it!
Who did the studies that discredit Teva's claim that you mention? The other drug manufacturers?
I think neurologists hesitate to prescribe it because of the expense. I have medicare. In the gap it costs me about $650 for 90 days. Worth every penny.
Dan
Posted 9/1/2015 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
Lady Victorian

Update?

Dan
Posted 9/2/2015 6:28 PM (GMT 0)
Dad did get it and tried it but said it made his muscles ache really bad so he stopped. He is thinking about trying it again to make sure that is what caused it but he is afraid of the other side effects.
Posted 9/22/2015 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
Any luck with Mucuna pruriens? Seems like a more natural alternative with less side effects. I also heard the natural L-Dopa from mucuna is more readily used to promote dopamine.
Posted 10/30/2015 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
Lady Vicodin:
Everyone is different, but I've been on Azilect 1mg since diagnosis 6 years ago, started Stalevo 125 3X about 3 years ago (after a horrible experience with Requip) and have had no discernible progression since and no need to increase Stalevo. For me, at least, that combination works very well.
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