Re: Starting Comtan

[Barry Black <blackxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

HI,

I tried comtan for about a year, 1999-2000. It was like a background drug as
it didn't do any good by itself. After a few months a residual built up and
this caused dyskinesia between 4-7 pm. I take 5 Sinemet 100 per day.

Recently my Neuro took me off comtan and put me on an agonist Cabaser. I
still get dyskinesia but it is not as bad as the comtan

I have PD for over 30 years and I have had two sided DBS in STN

As with all PD drugs , I let my neuro tell me how much to take during the
start-up phase and then I cut it in half so I never get a bad reaction. It
takes about twice as long to get the benefit but it causes less stress on
the brain . Cabaser took 18 days to receive any benefit

GO VERY SLOW IF NOT SLOWER

Barry
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gail Vass" <wbanks@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <PARKINSN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 8:29 AM
Subject: Starting Comtan


> I went to a Parkinson  Support  Meeting  last  night
> and heard a lecture by Movement Disorder Specialist
> Dr Linda Sigmund.  She gave an excellent lecture
> about    "The A-B-C's of Parkinson's Disease".
>
> She gives  this lecture annually but updates it each
> year  with the latest news  and  shares  some of her
> experience  in  the field.
>
> Last night  when she was fielding questions from the
> audience she mentioned that she does NOT start her
> patients on a full dose of Comtan 200 mg when she
> begins the therapy.
>
> She went on to say that many  patients were unsuccessful
> beginning with a full dose  of Comtan,  so that she begins
> her patients on HALF  [  1/2 of the tablet  ] of the recommended
> dose for * a full week *  before increasing their dose up to one
> full tablet  with each Sinemet.
>
> Now of course, this has to be approved by your own physician
> but  I felt this was important information to pass on  as some
> Parkies have "tried" Comtan and had  "problems" taking the
> medication and maybe they found what her own experience
> was, that some patients can't start with the whole pill all at once.
>
> I felt this was valuable information to pass on because those who
> are able to take Comtan  are often able to take less  Sinemet.
>
> NPF's Dr Abraham Lieberman MD, Medical Director has posted
> some info on Comtan:
>         
>
> Gail Vass
>
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