Re: My Dad was just diagnosed

[Pick Mahaffey <pickm@xxxxxxxx>]

I am 70y, just diagnosed 4 months ago. Been on Mirapex from beginning, 0.5mg  3 
times a day. 

Muscle rigidity improved dramatically  from first pill onward. No side effects  
to date. 

I exercise at the YMCA, my 14 minute mile is now 20 minutes, and I am tired 
after one mile. I used to do 3 miles. 

 My neurologist is a young guy, who seems to be on top of the latest PD stuff. 
Mirapex seems to be the preferred 1st choice pill for Parkinsons from my 
research on the Web.

I also take a generic of Artane for tremors. I have a left side tremor that is 
mild to date, and the Artane controls it almost completely.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Daniel Wachula 
  To: PARKINSN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2000 10:58 PM
  Subject: My Dad was just diagnosed


  My father was diagnosed about a week ago.  He is taking a drug called 
Mirapex.  I guess that this drug is about 2 years old.  He lives in Illinois 
and he needs to be active all the time - he worksout every other day.  My 
question is - does anybody have any information about this drug? and what about 
the drug called levodpa?  I have heard that l-dopa wears off after a few years 
which is why he is taking Mirapex?  Any comments will be great.  
   
  Thanks for the newsletters on Web sites for PD.  My Dad does not have a 
computer so I need to gather as much information on this as I can. 
   
  Thanks!
  Dan in Wisconsin