Ropinirole Diary: June 2012

This is a much neglected series of posts – but it would also have been a very boring one if I had continued at the pace that I set out at. The latest news is that I saw my consultant a few weeks ago and after talking about my hopes to get shot of the dystonia in my foot (not achieved at 12 mg), she suggested a hike to 16 mg. Apparently, it’s not really worth troubling with 2 mg increments at this level – and this dose size is, she assured me, well within the bounds of normal.

I haven’t started on that dose yet. I decided to wait until I had an official prescription for that amount, which involved a delay because I didn’t want to take yet another part-day off work for yet another medical appointment (I had two middle-of-the-day ones in my first month in this job); I have an after-work appointment later this week.

Rave On: Ecstasy implicated in potential Parkinson’s treatment

Health India’s headline is a tad optimistic: “Ecstasy (MDMA), a rave drug could cure Parkinson’s!” (love the ecstatic exclamation mark), but the article itself is more measured. Of course MDMA isn’t going to cure Parkinson’s. A cure is a long way off. MDMA isn’t even going to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s – but it, or, rather, one of its analogues, might be able to ameliorate the side effects of the ultimate drug for Parkinson’s, levodopa.

Ropinirole Diary – April 2012

Current daily tablet ration. Round white tablet: rasgiline; Oval pink tablets: ropinirole 2 mg; Oval brown tablets: ropinirole 8 mg.

It’s probably about time that I made another entry in the ropinirole diary.

I have been taking 10 mg of the stuff for  fair while now, with no side effects. In general, I feel pretty good; the tremor is minimal (particularly when I’m not cold!), I’ve regained a lot of the dexterity in my left hand (I can tie my laces again), and the rigidity seems to have eased a fair bit, too. It’s obviously working. I can understand Sarah Nock‘s enthusiasm for the drug.

The principal aim, for me, in taking ropinirole, was to try to knock the dystonia in my left foot on the head, so to speak. It hasn’t quite worked yet, but I am very pleased to report that my toes don’t seem quite so determined to curl up. I can run a lot better than I could before I started taking ropinirole (but that is not to say that I am actually any good at it) – my toes aren’t curling up in preparation for impact any more. But they do still curl, and it’s still uncomfortable.

So… I’ve decided to up my dosage one more time. I’m taking an extra two milligrams, starting yesterday.

Toes crossed!

Supply Restrictions on Azilect (Rasagiline)

I have heard of problems with the supply of Azilect (generic name: rasagiline, although there are, as yet, no generic licences for this drug*) to pharmacies before, but have not experienced any problems myself – until today.

Fortunately, I have a week or two’s supply in hand (but only three day’s worth of ropinirole), so I doubt that it will affect me this time other than the requirement to return to the pharmacy next week.

When the pharmacist told me that he had been unable to source the Azilect, he said that “they” would not let him have any. That sounded odd, to me, and – as the shop was quiet – I asked him about it.

Ropinirole Diary – Doubling Up

After a week and a half, 8 mg didn’t seem to be much different to 6 mg.