Help! confusion re: l-dopa

[Guest guest]

I need advice,

My father has MSA that started with OPCA . He has been in a

wheel chair for 9 months. He has trouble speaking and walking.

A few months ago he started to have a tremor in his right arm he

also has pain in his right shoulder. A doctor, in the center where

he is living, prescribed l-dopa. He took it ( a small dose) and

said that he did not fel well afterwards. The trembling diminished

some but I think that his speech was more slurred and he

seemed more tired. I had a lot more trouble understanding him

which I found difficult and I'm sure he found it very frustrating. I

could not make out much of what he was saying.

After many weeks of requests his neurologist agreed to stop the

l-dopa. I was relieved because I felt that it was prescribed

without any consultation with his regular neurologist. I saw my

father 5 days after he stopped taking the medecine and I was

happy to see that he was more alert and I could understand his

speech much more easily. I did notice that his arm shook more

and that he drooled more. The caretakers at the center find that

he is trembling much more and drooling more and they are

wanting us to get him back on the l-dopa. I respect their

opininon, since they are in daily contact with him. I suppose that I

am scared to not be able to really talk to him again and that he

will be very tired...and not be " himself " .

Does l-dopa affect speech or is it my imagination? what about

drooling? are there side-effects? Has anyone been in this

situation? Your in-put could help with our decision.

Thanks Joanne