Parkinson's Disease Support Group

I certainly can't speak for everyone but my hubby was given Artane along with his Sinemet. He did have the terrible dyskenesia of shoulders, head and body. We discontinued the Artane ( slowly) and it is gone. He still has the tremors as the meds wear off between doses. But for right now it is something he can live with. I hope you get other replies to see how others feel. Best wishes and I hope you get it straightened out. XOXO pat

You didn't say how long you've had PD, nor how long you've been on the Requip or whether or not you are taking any Sinemet. I can only say that the dyskinesias you're having (and it sounds like thats what you have) can come on in people who have been on carbi/levodopa for several years (? six for me). Not sure about the agonists(Requip, etc.); though less likely to occur early on it does happen. I've taken Requip in conjunction with levodopa for about 6 years, with Requip doses as high as 30 mg/day. Had no problem with tha amount until I had to increase the frequency of Sinemet dose.Now I walk a tightrope between stiffnes and dyskinesias all day. If you don't have much of a tremor or rigidity I would think it worth a shot to try and split those little rock-hard pills in half for one or two doses and see how that worked. Youre gonna see him/her in 5 days. (I don't know why it would have flared up so quickly. Any change in other meds or diet?)

I take Requip .25 3 times a day..I had some major problems when the RX was filled generic..jerking, tremor 100 times worse than when I started meds 6 months ago I went back to non generic and it is getting better but can't seem to tolerate higher doses of anything

Thank you usualsuspect for your post. No, I do not have a PD dx yet, only a definite 'movement disorder' dx. If I have PD I would guess I've been experiencing symptoms now definitely since 2003, and possibly since 94/95. My age and symptoms have had me bouncing through many doctors over the years with the same misdiagnosis- until my symptoms started changing and I finally really started seeking a right dx. I've been on the Requip 4 1/2 months and have been at 3 mg 3xday since early June. No sinemet, just the Artane added about a month ago. I read the same thing as you- sinemet long term can create dyskinesia, and agonists... but 4 1/2 months isn't very 'long'??? - that's why I thought it might have happened because of adding the artane. Otherwise my diet, exercise and med hasn't changed. hmmm...

I suffer primarily from stiffness and slowness with very little (only when stress/excited) to no tremor. My doc has been quite concerned with my symptoms as he thinks I'm 'too stiff'. He has checked me for stiff-man syndrome with 2 different blood tests and both came back negative/normal. Since he's only started seeing me in April, he has no earlier evaluations for me during my 2003 to present state of misdiagnosis- but my recent exams are positive with rigidity, and my many tests have confirmed I do have a movement disorder.

I can't imagine lowering the requip dose- I already stiffen up quite dramatically as my dosing times approach- if I lessened it- whoa I'd be scared to see what I looked like walking mid-day-rofl!! I have lowered the artane and the dyskinesia seems to be back to only my left shoulder/arm where it started at... but that was before I even started the artane... so maybe I'm just one of the lucky get the early agonist med dyskinesia side effect patient- lol!!!

Thanks so much and I hope today is a good day with your tightrope walk. Keep well! Many ((hugs)) Connie