Hi,
At the beginning of this year I was taking 10 x 61/245mg Rytary daily. In February or March I was driving home from work and my posture changed to slightly “hunched-over”, breathing became shallow and my left chest ached. (It was the kind of ache I used to get in college when taking a mid-term test). I went to ER thinking perhaps my heart was having a problem. EKG was fine. These same symptoms started hitting me regularly (almost daily) thereafter, around 2 or 3 PM (at work).
My was body was behaving as if I was emotionally stressed, but I wasn’t. It seems to be a chemically-induced “anxiety” (for lack of a better word).
My Neurologist (who switched me over from Sinemet CR to Rytary 1yr prior) didn’t seem very familiar with the symptoms and, at first, prescribed an anti-depressant (which I did not take). Next she prescribed a med to help “regulate” serotonin.
Covid19 came and I started working at home late April. I started taking less Rytary and sleeping more and the anxiety-attacks have practically stopped.
A physician (on other PD site) reports “dozens” of patients experiencing this - and blames it on Rytary. I thought Rytary was, basically, carbidopa/levodopa, so why would Rytary be more apt to cause problems(?) (Perhaps Rytary goes on releasing carbidopa/levodopa even when we don’t need it(?))
I’d be interested in hearing from others who have experienced these anxiety-like “spells”, especially if you have information on what causes them.
Cheers!