Neuropathy Problems Archives

Drug Holiday for Parkinson's Disease

I have parkinson's disease and have been on medication for almost 10 years now. I have heard a lot about drug holidays and was wondering what your opinion is of them. I am having trouble sleeping, and at times I don't feel like the medication is working to it's full potential. So I am wondering if I need to change the combination or the type of medication that I am using.

Thank you for your response
Dar

Follow Ups:

• Re: Drug Holiday for Parkinson's Disease (Archive in neurology.) Walt Stoll 09:19:41 7/24/01 (0)

In Reply to: Drug Holiday for Parkinson's Disease posted by Dar Newman on July 22, 2001 at 07:40:32:

Hi, Dar.

Since this kind of medication is only suppressing symptoms, you cannot harm yourself by stopping it. If your symptoms start getting worse you can always go back to your usual dose.

Since 50% of diagnoses of Parkinsonism are ultimately shown to have been erroneous--and anti-parkinsonism drugs can actually cause progressive parkinsonism like symptoms in those who were misdiagnosed--anyone CAN learn from a drug holiday for this condition.

ANY competent physician knows this--although they do not ever want to admit that they may have misdiagnosed anyone.

You should not do this without your physician's supervision--not because it might harm you but because you will want to learn as much as possible FROM the "holiday" and your physician can help with that. If your physician is uncooperative, go to the archives about holistic physicians and find a better one close to you.

Let us know what you learn.

Walt