My Medication and Parkinson’s Disease

My Medication and Parkinsons Disease

Update 5th September 2019

In April this year (2019) I saw one of the Specialist Parkinson’s Disease Nurses at the Kiltearn Medical Centre in Nantwich.

She was very helpful when I outlined what changes were occurring in my symptoms and suggested that we should try another drug called Madopar which combines levodopa with benzeraside in a 50mg/12.5mg compound.

The effect was remarkable, and when I was reviewed again in June 2019 the dose was increased to 2 capsules three times per day. Which actually takes some remembering !!

So when I saw my Consultant in August I asked about a slow release version but he said it doesn’t work so well. I am therefore stuck with taking them 3 times a day – it is worth it though.

To discuss my medication, I last saw one of the Specialist Parkinson’s Disease Nurses at Leighton Hospital in Crewe on 14th February this year.

Although I was expecting to see the newly assigned nurse for Crewe, she was not yet available so I saw Louise, one  of the nurses from the Royal Stoke Hospital who covers my area currently.

As I had spoken to Louise about my medication in January I was happy to meet her this time.  We discussed my medication (1 mg Ropinirole 3 times per day) and she suggested I carry on building up the dosage until my symptoms subside – so at that point I started to increase gradually and I am now (25th April) taking 3 in the morning, 2 at 3.00pm and 2 at 10.00pm although I shall increase that to taking 3 in the morning, 3 at 3.00pm and 3 at 10.00pm from next Monday.

I am due to see the Consultant Neurologist at the hospital clinic next Friday 5th May, so we’ll see what that brings – I’m quite happy with the Ropinirole medication at present so I hope they don’t suggest changing it.

My Medication Update: 5th October 2017

I again saw Louise, one  of the nurses from the Royal Stoke Hospital who covers my area currently, but this time she was accompanied by Gill, who is the newly assigned nurse for Crewe.

I understand that she will be taking me on in the future so it was good to meet her.

This meeting was to review my condition and whether the medication is still working and still suiting me.

This is my medication at present:

1. Amlodipine 5 mg tablets – One each day

2. Amantadine Hydrochloride 100 mg capsules: One per day

3. Ipinnia XL 2 mg tablets (Ropinirole: total daily dose 10 mg) One each day

4. Ipinnia XL 8 mg tablets (Ropinirole: total daily dose 10 mg) One each day

5. Duloxetine 20mg Gastro-Resistant Capsules One per day

6. Tamsulosin 400 microgram (Pamsvax XL) – One per day

Not all of them are for my Parkinson’s Disease symptoms. You’ll see that I got the prolonged release tablets and they’re working well.

The Nurse asked about the Amantadine again, it seems that she doesn’t agree with the idea of me taking it, but it IS working for me. See Going Against Professional Advice

My Medication Update: 25th May 2017:

Whilst I was OK on the 9 tablets I was taking every day plus 2 others for blood pressure etc. I discovered that a slow release tablet might be available to me.

I asked the Neurologist in the clinic and was told it may be possible as the cost had come down with generic medications on the market, but would be down to my GP to agree.

He recommended 10 mg as my medication level and sent the request to the GP.

I collected my new prescription 2 days ago and feel happier taking my medication once a day instead of having to remember to take them at fixed times during every day. ( I actually set up alarms on my phone to remind me).

It is feeling good as the side effects of spikes in my medication caused me to be very tired immediately after taking the immediate release tablets, and that now seems to have gone!

My Medication Update 4th May 2017:

I actually think that my medication at 3 x 3 per day (3 mg Ropinirole 3 times per day) since Monday this week is feeling about right. The only thing is that it”s making me a little over-confident – I’m doing more and I fell over twice in a couple of days through overbalancing.