DEAR DR. GOTT:
In a recent column in our local newspaper, a writer told of a friend with the shakes, as in the early stages of Parkinson’s. In the article, the reference was to B-5Q in a couple of places and again in your answer.
The last sentence of your response, however, referred to B-50. Could you clear this up for us, please? My brother is in the early stages of Parkinson’s or something like it and has the shakes. We attempted to locate B-5Q with no success, but B-50 is available.
Thank you. We appreciate your help.
DEAR READER:
As I am sure you are aware, Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disorder that is both chronic and progressive. It is not contagious, nor is it generally inherited.
Early symptoms may be subtle and occur slowly. Key signs can include postural abnormalities, a shuffling gait, tremor, dementia, a blank stare and lack of facial expression, and more. The sense of smell may be affected and individuals with what may have been a voracious appetite may not appear hungry or express any interest in food. Pill rolling, the rhythmic back and forth motion of the thumb and forefinger, is common to those watching, but the Parkinson’s patient may be unaware of the action.
Parkinsonism is the term given to a group of combined symptoms. If Parkinson’s is the result of specific drugs taken for psychiatric, hypertensive and stomach disorders, the condition can be reversed by either discontinuing the medication or by reducing the doses taken. Other forms of the disease are not reversible.
Now, on to your letter that obviously caused some confusion. A typographical or typesetting error was made by your local newspaper when my column on the subject was entered. The product I referred to was not B5Q, but B50. According to a number of my readers, two vitamins, 100 mg of grape seed extract and vitamin B-50, have been used effectively and without side effects for control of the tremor associated with Parkinson’s.
I don’t believe that over-the-counter drugs will do your brother any harm, but he should be seen by his primary care physician and referred to a neurologist for diagnosis. Tremor doesn’t have to be the result of Parkinson’s, but can be from other causes. Once the neurologist makes a diagnosis by connecting the symptoms, he may choose to prescribe Eldepryl or another medication for control.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Parkinson’s Disease”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.
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