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What Are The Side Effects Of Sinemet In An Elderly Person?
Question: Doctor ..mom is 91, has one kidney, CHF (controlled...if we watch salt)has a fib (controlled,) for last few months she has had, primarily at night in bed , legs jerking ( not " restless" legs... But like a spasm,,,, ) she has some back pain occasionally also. She takes plenty of htn pills and the htn is controlled most of time. She takes metoprolol, diovan, nefedipine, hctz, and Multaq. Her primary care doc has prescribed Sinemet, an anti parkinson disease drug for her leg jerking. Mom is worried about that brain effect drug... Especially since she had a fall 2 years ago and had a subdural hematoma ( surgery went ok.) Shes worried about effect of sinemet and wants me to ask you about it. She thinks the jerking is from the spine... Her Back
is sore often.
is sore often.
Brief Answer:
Get evaluation and consultation of a neurologist
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
In parkinsons, shaking of legs occurs all the time and increases with stress. Are there other features like stiffness, slowness of activities?
The leg jerking if present only in sleep may be sleep related movement and not parkinsons. Further the drugs used for parkinsons have side effects like postural hypotension and giddiness. Therefore I will suggest examination and evaluation by a neurologist for diagnosis and treatment of this condition. If she hasn't consulted a neurologist before starting sinemet, I wouldn't favor its use now.
In other words, I will insist that she gets evaluated by a neurologist before continuing drug.
She may continue other medications.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back to me for further queries.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Get evaluation and consultation of a neurologist
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
In parkinsons, shaking of legs occurs all the time and increases with stress. Are there other features like stiffness, slowness of activities?
The leg jerking if present only in sleep may be sleep related movement and not parkinsons. Further the drugs used for parkinsons have side effects like postural hypotension and giddiness. Therefore I will suggest examination and evaluation by a neurologist for diagnosis and treatment of this condition. If she hasn't consulted a neurologist before starting sinemet, I wouldn't favor its use now.
In other words, I will insist that she gets evaluated by a neurologist before continuing drug.
She may continue other medications.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back to me for further queries.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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