Is anyone using Rytary?

Worst symptom is in the non-movement area - the nervousness & anxiety I almost consistently get (now) after the mid-day dose of 4 Rytary capsules. I can't determine if the anxiety/nervousness is a result of the diminishing effects of the venlafaxine or with too much of the Rydary building up.

I understand what you are saying, @hjscheib. Has the increased anxiety and nervousness become worse since taking the Rytary?
If you think there is some correlation between the use of the Rytary and the increased anxiety, you might consider calling your doctor's office and seeing if you could decrease the Rytary a little.

Are you still taking the carbidopa/levodopa?

No longer taking carbidopa/levodopa. The Rytary is time-released carbidopa/levodopa. With the Rytary 3 X per day (4 capsules) my has just responded to the need for down time dopamine. But I am still getting the anxiety and nervousness. Will seek ouit a new med to replace venlafaxene, if there is some med I could take where there were no major negative results. Will be speaking with my psychiatrist in search of something to replace venlafaxene. (Does anyone know of a useful anti-anxiety drug or mood stabilizer that would help reduce the anxiety and nervousness that might be created by a PD drug - like Rytary - which is suppposed to reduce off-time PD symptoms, w/o adding to them?

@hjscheib

I'm not sure about how different meds will react with Rytary. I've never taken Rytary. I did take Venlafaxene for a couple of years and it did not work well for me. However, I was taking a much smaller dose than you.

I switched several years ago to Cymbalta and feel much better. Cymbalta is good for sleeping as well as for pain. Talk with your doctor and see what he/she feels would be a good substitute for Venlafaxene.

If your doctor approves a change in meds, will you let me know how you are feeling?

My doctor and I are trying to arrive at a good, productive daily dose of Rytary. We started from carbadopa/levodopa 3 doses per day, 2 pills perdose (25/100 mg. Took with Azilect (1 pill; 5 mg, per day. Am in the middle of a switch to Rydary and have been taking various doses for the past 8-10 weeks; 95 mg, capsules. I am getting tired after the 2nd dose and sometimes the 3rd, also. The tired feeling seems most connected with my thighs; no pain just tired, "washed out" feeling (with slow walk). I have briefly talked with my neurologist and we have shorted the time between doses by 1/2 hour. Can't yet determine if that is helping me. Might be cutting down on the tired legs feeling and the anxiety I feel, sometimes at the same time. Constantly chatting with my neurologist about this interrelated grouping of adverse effects - including irritability.Somehow we missed the effect of low blood pressure, or else it didn't arise in my dosing regimen. Howard J. Scheiber, PhD

Another question: How close is Sinemet ER, which will cost me a great deal less than Rytary, to Rytary itself. That is a question for my neurologist

I'll be talking to my psychiatrist in early October and I will get an opinion about Cymbalta - adverse effects? headache? etc.I have had no adverse effects with the use of venlafaxene

Hello @hjscheib

It sounds like you have a lot of meds to sort out with your doctors. It is difficult at times to know what med might be causing different problems. You might consider keeping a journal of the time you take your meds and the time of any responses. This may help you sort out the fatigue.

You mentioned low blood pressure. Do you monitor your blood pressure daily?

Hello @hjscheib,

I'm not sure that I'm familiar with Sinemet ER. I do take a med that has the brand name of Stalevo (generic name:
carbidopa/levodopa/entacapone). From my understanding, the ingredient, entacapone, is the part of the med that makes the Sinemet stay in the brain longer. Is this what you mean by Sinemet ER?

If so, I have taken one a day for a number of years and I've found it very helpful.

I would be interested in finding out more about your decision. Would you post an update?

Will share my decision about Rytery as soon as I have discussed all the issues - especially the adverse effects ... like irritability; anxiety; loss of physical strength in my legs (primarily the thighs) which doesn't help my ability to walk distances or take "excursions" in or around my neighborhood. Might be a question of dosing, although my wife just thinks - having watched it and me over the past 8+ weeks - I ought to discuss the use of another drug with fewer nagatives attached to the "on" or off periods. Will certainly bring up the use of Stalevo, (Sinemet ER carbidopa/levodopa/entacapone)