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Lifestyle Tips

Maintaining your independence

If you have Parkinson's disease, there are things you can do to help improve your everyday life. For example, staying active can help you live more easily with your symptoms. Working with a speech therapist to address any changes in your voice and speech patterns can help you communicate better. And joining a support group can allow you to share your experience with other people who are also dealing with Parkinson's disease.

In addition, making some simple changes to your home and living environment may enable you to perform everyday tasks more easily and safely.

Here are a few ideas:

• Replace the buttons on clothing with Velcro^® fasteners
• Remove any throw rugs that you could trip over
• Install railings in bathrooms, hallways, or other locations where you may need help maintaining your balance
• If necessary, install ramps to make moving in a wheelchair easier
• Make your lights touch-sensitive
• Replace regular doorknobs with lever handles
• Get automatic faucets and kitchen-type fixtures to make washing up easier
• Arrange furniture so that there are clear paths for walking throughout the house

Velcro is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries B.V. LTD LIAB CO.

For people who are in the advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease, wheelchairs and ramps can improve mobility.

These changes can allow you to function more independently in your home, which can give you confidence. It will also help you feel like you are doing everything you can to manage Parkinson’s disease successfully.

Next: Daily Living

Indications:

MIRAPEX ER and Mirapex^® (pramipexole dihydrochloride) tablets are prescription medicines to treat the signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Important Safety Information:

MIRAPEX ER or MIRAPEX may cause you to fall asleep without warning during daily activities, including talking, eating, and driving, which may result in accidents. Tell your doctor if you feel new or increased sleepiness while taking MIRAPEX ER or MIRAPEX. Do not drive a car, operate a machine, or do anything that needs you to be alert until you know how MIRAPEX ER or MIRAPEX affects you.

Before taking MIRAPEX ER or MIRAPEX, talk to your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you feel sleepy during the day. Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol or take other medications that make you drowsy, as these can increase the chance that MIRAPEX ER or MIRAPEX will make you feel sleepy or fall asleep when you should be awake.

When taking MIRAPEX ER or MIRAPEX, hallucinations (unreal visions, sounds or sensations) may occur and you may sometimes feel dizzy, nauseated, faint or sweaty when you sit up or stand quickly.

Some patients taking certain medicines to treat PD, including MIRAPEX ER and MIRAPEX, have reported problems, such as gambling, compulsive eating, compulsive buying, and increased sex drive. If you or your family members notice that you are developing unusual urges or behaviors, talk to your doctor.

The most common side effects in people taking MIRAPEX ER for early PD are sleepiness, nausea and vomiting, constipation, dizziness, tiredness, hallucinations, dry mouth, muscle spasms, and edema (swelling of the feet and ankles).

The most common side effects in people taking MIRAPEX ER who have later-stage PD are abnormal movements, nausea, constipation, hallucinations, headache, and anorexia.

The most common side effects in people taking MIRAPEX for PD are nausea, dizziness, sleepiness, constipation, hallucinations, insomnia, muscle weakness, confusion, and abnormal movements.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information, for MIRAPEX ER and MIRAPEX.

*This offer is not valid if your prescriptions are paid for in whole or in part by Medicaid, Medicare, TriCare, or any other federal or state medical or pharmaceutical assistance program. This offer is not valid in Massachusetts or where prohibited by law. The value of this card for each prescription is limited to $40 or your out-of-pocket costs, whichever is less.

This offer must be presented at the pharmacy and all benefits utilized by 12/31/12. Patients enrolled after 12/31/2011 will only be eligible for the number of refills up to the program expiration date of 12/31/2012.

This information is intended for U.S. residents only.

CARES Foundation If you can't afford your MIRAPEX ER,
our patient assistance program
may be able to help. Call 1-800-556-8317.