I enjoy a margarita when out to dinner! After 15 years with Parkinson’s I’m not denying myself anything (seriously) life is to short. 😃

I was on Amantadine to try to reduce Dystonia. Eventually I got DBS. So Amantadine was stopped. Over the next few weeks, my balance became awful. Eventually Amantadine was started again and my balance returned. If you have not tried Amantadine, ask your specialist if you can try it. There are studies that show Amantadine can help with balance.

Absolutely. Essential tremors, the kind I started out with, actually decreased intensity or stopped completely with a glass of wine. Your alcohol use is something that you do need to consider -- and something important to be honest about. She needs to know if you have had prior issues with alcohol, addiction or abuse. (Because it can exaggerate or increase the chances of addictive behavior in people who have already had it. WEIRD. It's one of the most serious side effects of a lot of the meds we take.) It should be one of the first things your doctor asks about. Things like this are what I call a diagnostic question -- a question that doctors are trained to ask you during your medical history. Your response is carefully noted for the purpose of determining your condition.

I was a moderate drinker prior to being diagnosed in 2018 and remain a moderate drinker. I have found that a glass of wine significantly diminishes or eliminate my PD tremor, but I would add that is not why I still have a glass. of wine each evening.

I don’t drink alcohol at all any more. I really work hard at maintaining a “normal” active life and consumption of alcohol just doesn’t fit into that. My wife is even after me to toss my my beer making supplies I have not used in five years. Better things to do.