Progress?

My Aunt visited her neurologist today. He doubled her daily dose of Mirapex (Pramipexole) -- from .125 mg to .250 mg 3 X daily -- after examining her and stating that her Parkinson's Disease was undertreated. She seemed to pass all the other little physical tests like walking, squeezing his hand, touching her nose.

What if we had not made that appointment? She missed one of her quarterly appointments while in the rehab center, but no effort was made to follow-up far as I know. We were given the option of boosting the dosage further in week if need be -- up to 4.50 mg daily, can you imagine! The increase is supposed to improve balance and reduce tremors, with one potential side effect hallucinations. But no worry, not dangerous. Just cut the dosage back and it will be fine...Oy!

The doctor said it was definitely a Parkinson's tremor (3-4 shakes a second), and not an "essential tremor." He also was very pleased to be shown a list of all my Aunt's medications and kept a photocopy, but he did not ask for that info...One doctor down, two to go.