Amantadine and Decreased BP or weight?

[Guest guest]

Anyone know of any cases where someone's BP and/or weight actually

decreased with prescription of Amantadine (Symmetrel)?

My BP has gone down, and so has my weight (which is going to really

concern my internist - and myself - as they'll start pushing that

jejunum tube issue again).

I don't see these listed as possible side-effects on what I've found

(or what you sent me Vera - thanks by the way :-). So, perhaps I'm

just cycling again. Body has been acting weird anyway (more so than

this new " normal " ). Decline seems consistent and relatively rapid.

I thought this was suppose to go slow - and kinda plateau here and

there?

Anyway, please let me know if you have any info.

I'm trying to avoid it (j-tube), but...

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

:

One of the possible side effects of Amantadine is dizziness which

usually results from lowered BP.

[Guest guest]

,

Weight loss in MSA is normally from eating less. In your case it may be the

stomach shutting down (gasteoparesis -sp). There is a test they can do to see

if the stomach is performing correctly. This seems to be an effect of autonomic

failure as far as I can tell as Anne Pledger had that problem and got a stomach

pacemaker to help her digest food. It is working for her.

In Charlotte's case it was eating less due to swallowing difficulties. You need

to start keeping a log of your daily intake of food and liquids. Add in your

daily temperature and BP - we always checked BP and temperature just before

Charlotte got up (still reclining) and immediately after she sat up on the edge

of the bed. That gave us a baseline to work from. As she got more into the

disorder, I kept a food and drink log also, and made up any shortage of

nutrients with various supplements such as Ensure, Jeveity, or even Slimfast.

She was almost always short of calcium and that can be made up with a Tums or

two.

You also need to make sure you are getting enough protein as it helps the body

do it's normal thing. Sixty five grams of protein seems to be a minimum, but

you may need to get a dietician consult to learn more about that. The doctor

can prescribe that and get your insurance to pay for it. If not, the next time

you are in the hospital ask to speak to the dietician there as part of your

discharge planning.

Note that discharge planning can be a great source of help for MSA patients and

you should insist on it anytime you are in the hospital. At worst they should

have a nurse who has some experience in discharge planning, and better hospitals

have a trained person in discharge planning who can help you arrange everything

you need for home care.

Take care, Bill Werre

==========================================

>

>

> Date: 2002/07/30 Tue AM 01:08:00 CDT

> To: shydrager

> Subject: Amantadine and Decreased BP or weight?

>

> Anyone know of any cases where someone's BP and/or weight actually

> decreased with prescription of Amantadine (Symmetrel)?

>

> My BP has gone down, and so has my weight (which is going to really

> concern my internist - and myself - as they'll start pushing that

> jejunum tube issue again).

>

> I don't see these listed as possible side-effects on what I've found

> (or what you sent me Vera - thanks by the way :-). So, perhaps I'm

> just cycling again. Body has been acting weird anyway (more so than

> this new " normal " ). Decline seems consistent and relatively rapid.

> I thought this was suppose to go slow - and kinda plateau here and

> there?

>

> Anyway, please let me know if you have any info.

>

> I'm trying to avoid it (j-tube), but...

>

> Thanks,

>

>

>

>

> If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may

> unsubscribe by sending a blank email to

>

> shydrager-unsubscribe

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

GOOD POINT.

THANKS.

PAUL

> :

> One of the possible side effects of Amantadine is dizziness

which

> usually results from lowered BP.