Hi!,
I was dx with PD last Nov. My tremour is in my left arm. I have been given Mirapexin from the start, going up to 1.52 and now back to 1.05 because of the side effects! For me these have been..much reduced sleep (3-4Hrs a night), swollen ankles/legs,
weight gain and a feeling of being out of breath when talking! My shake has been worse since coming off the higher dose. Oh! and cramping of the feet when trying to relax. I am interested to know of others experience with this drug and if anyone has advice to give I would be most grateful.
I don't know if I am expecting too much or really what to expect.

Hi millymolly
Like you I was dx last nov and on mirapexin 1-57 I have all the non motor symptoms.cramps. Full time in the calf muscles and hands,toes hurt like a toothache pain,trouble cutting food up,choking when I eat it.but on top of pd I've now got bells palesy nd this feels like your head is being squash by all the muscle tightening up,it's giving me really bad headaches that won't move with meds.im trying my best on mirapexin I get dizzy and headachy when I step up but then level off.im trying to stay on mirapexin cause the alternative is worse.i have two hours sleep a night if I'm lucky.all the best twins99

Really sorry you are having such a difficult time Twins99, hope some of the problems can be resolved.

Millymolly, if you use the Search Forum tool (on top left hand side of Forum page) under Mirapexin you will find lots of information in previous posts.

I started taking it about a year ago (was already on Madopar). I found it very difficult to get used to mainly due to insomnia and increased anxiety. However after about six months I sleep a bit better, albeit on and off during the night and the anxiety has worn off. My weight seems to have stabilised.

My current dose is 1.05mg slow release tablet daily. As you will be aware it is a dopamine agonist and can have undesirable effects such as hallucinations, overspending, gambling etc. as well documented on another thread of Forum. Therefore I would not like to increase the dose too much.

P.S. Meant post for Twins99 too.

Thankyou all for your responses. It has given me perspective and compared to some my side effects are a doddle!. I will look on the forum page as advised and have taken on board all your comments
Thanks again

When I first joined this site, one year nine months ago (and three months after diagnosis), I started a thread called “In Defence of Mirapexin” for the sake of the newly prescribed because the drug had been receiving such bad press from some quarters. Soon after, my postings attracted what I considered at the time to be negative replies. The more I tried to defend the drug, the more ‘negative’ responses I received and the thread was eventually hijacked.

For the sake of those who have recently been prescribed Mirapexin, I feel compelled to state that I, personally, have nothing to complain about regarding this drug. My dose was recently increased to 1.57 mg prolonged release per day from the original 1.05 and it took precisely 17 days for my body to adjust. Some people might need more time or more dosage, some will need less and some will decide it is not for them. We are all different, but we must give the drug time to work and we must assess it based on our own personal experience. (Having said that, please bear in mind that some will say you are incapable of making such an assessment while you are on the drug.)

Of course, things are not perfect, but I'm not looking for perfection because I accept that I have an incurable, progressive condition. Yes, I get swollen ankles in the evenings. Yes, I sometimes feel sleepy during the day. Yes, I often have sleepless nights. Yes, I sometimes get cramps. Yes, I occasionally feel ‘hyper’. Yes … yes … yes. But at least I can function now and I feel grateful for that.

Please bear in mind the foregoing before you write off this, or any other, medication.

I have to agree with Lily. Mirapex (mirapexin) has brought me some normality. Very tired at first but that gradually improved. Not so tired any more. I take 2mg per day (.5 four times a day) and have since the day I was diagnosed (13 months ago). I take them in conjunction with amantadine (maximum daily dose). The only side effect of amantadine occurs if I have alcohol, then it causes insomnia. My only symptom now is my voice. I sound like Willie Nelson with a bad cold. If my tremor does occur, it is fleeting whereas before the drugs, it was active most of the day. That being said, I know I am lucky now but that my "normality" will deteriorate over time. I also know that the drug can affect PWP differently; I just think that you shouldn't give up on it too quickly.

I actually took longer to work up to 1,05 mg daily than the Neuro gave me. I have to admit I took a tablet every second day until I got used to it. GP told me off for doing that, (not good practice). Perhaps your tremor would lessen if and when another medication is added. Since Rasagaline was added to my combination of Levodopa and Mirapexin, the tremor has gone most of the time.

hi started on .52 in Jan this year when diagonesd, this as increased to 1.05 after about 6 weeks then a fortnight ago it as increased again by the neuroligist up to 1.57. Feel ok at the moment but drop off to sleep very easy in the evening when watching tv. my drugs are slow release. not relly sure how i should be feeling at the moment.

hi im on and feel it works some days and not others being a 3 shift worker doesnt help either i also take levadoper but my tremor[right hand]and dragging of right leg persists,soluble levadoper aids my normal day = 2/3 hours sleep if that and long working hours=12hr shifts,no dont feel sorry for me its my choice i hate been inactive,cycling to work aids my balance,dvla decission to revoke my license was a blessing in disguise