Hi everyone, been diagnosed with PD over a year ago. I am on three 62.5mg capsules of levadopa four times daily and another 2 125 mg capsules at night. The corresponding times for taking the medication are 9.00 am, 1.00pm, 5.00pm, 9.00pm and 11.00pm. I am just wondering as to the importance of taking the meds at exactly the same time every day. I have been rather casual and don’t really adhere strictly to the recommended times. Could this explain why I don’t seem to have made much progress with symptoms? Any advice would be really helpful.
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Hello boomerang83
The question you raise is an interesting one but unfortunately like so many aspects of Parkinson’s, one size doesn’t fit all. Formally the advice is to keep to set times. The reality is some have to be strict with medication times others have a bit of wriggle room.
Having said that I think that with time you come to know how your own Parkinson’s ‘works’ and that in my opinion, can potentially offer some flexibility. For example in my case, when first diagnosed I was still working and strict medication times were difficult because of the nature of my job but I tried hard to stick to the stated times. What I realised was my symptoms were mild at the time and if I was a bit late it didn’t seem to make much difference. It’s been easier since leaving work and medication now fits into my life not round work. In the intervening years I have learnt much about my own Parkinson’s. I know for example I don’t come to a complete stop if my meds are due, and taking them slightly early or later so that it fits more comfortably into my day doesn’t adversely affect my symptoms. I have come to trust my judgement about the best way to manage my meds and whilst I do basically adhere to a 4 hourly routine I can and do adjust timings to best suit what I have to do on any given day. It also gives me some flexibility depending on whether I’m having a good or not so good day. Perhaps what you need to do is adhere to strict timings for a couple of weeks and see if it makes any real difference.
I make one exception to this and that is if admitted to hospital and not able to self medicate. I will insist on getting my meds at the stated times. Having been in hospital where my meds did not only not come on time, some days being more than an hour late, the actual prescription got messed up. I should have only been an inpatienat for 2 or 3 days. It turned into 2 weeks plus 3 weeks rehab and I went right off my feet. If I ever find myself in that position again I will very quickly make it a formal complaint if the meds are not on time.
I appreciate this does not give you a definitive answer but as with most things Parkinson’s it’s a matter of marrying medical advice with what you know of yourself and how you react in any given circumstance.
Hope this helps you come to a decision that is right for you
Tot
Very appreciative that you have taken the time to respond in such a thorough manner, thanks for the advice.
Hi
I two am fairly new to PD being diagnosed nearly 2 years on medication 1 year. When I got to grips with 4 hourly medication I was advised to try and stick to the 4 hr medication times, this was very hard and was always running over 4 hrs. I was advised to get a medication watch as a reminder to take my medication every 4hrs. This was and still is very good and keeps my on track throughout the day with the taking of my medication. I must say it does seam to make a difference I don’t get any low spots when I had forgotten to take my medication on time.
Hopefully it’s doing a little good try anything once.
Good look Davesan
I’m also relatively recent diagnosis,18 mth, itry and get my co-careldopa meds (25/100, 09.00, 25/250 13.00,25/100 17.00, 50/200 modified release 21.00.this arangement allows me to be slightly flexible, up to 30 mins either side. This is my winter dosage in summer i take a different amount of co-careldopa, 25/250, am and again late afternoon with 50/200 mod release around 21.00. On winter dose I’m a bit more prone to stutters as i walk , but on higher dose I’m almost symptom free. I don’t do this myself it’s done in conjunction with my excellent GP and parky nurses. Sometimes you have to try different meds, dosages,timings and to to get the best meds and doses for you. I’ve got it wrong on occasion and had to change doses. Hope you find a suitable solution and can get a more normal and sympton reduced life
My husband takes his medication at set times but sometimes he is late or forgets and then he feels more unsteady and dizzy. I set reminders up for him using Alexa, one tells him to take his pills ,and another one a quarter of an hour later asks him if he has taken it.