[Siobhan P Calder]

The first drug prescribed was  Neupro Patches (Rotigotine)  I was diagnosed in October 2013 but until I saw that these patches made my symptoms completely vanish, then I knew I had it.  But this patch at a cost of $250 after insurance was worth it because I didn’t have any symptoms.  Well, as soon as the weather warmed up in the Spring the darn patches would fall off  1 hour after I would put them on and I was right back to where I started from.  I tend to run hot so I knew this wasn’t going to work.  Then I was taking Pramipexole 1.25 mg 3 times daily and that worked great for 6 years Then in 2018 I started having a Compulsivity side effect.  I started uncontrollable binge eating.  I have never been overweight or had food issues.   I gained 40 lbs in 6 months and went from a size 8 to a 14.  I regret not telling the doctor sooner while the other Parkinson symptoms where still at bay, I was getting depressed over weight gain.  I have been on Ropinirole for 1 month and the bing eating compulsion has gone away and my Parkinson symptoms, for the most part, are in check.  Still a little depressed and I feel nauseous a lot but I’d rather that and my weight is going down.  When my Neurologist changed to this medication, she said after this I would have to go to the actual Dopamine meds.  Not sure why.  I have only been on 3