Sculptors of healthy history come in various packages. Our cargo pilots in breaking the 1948 Berlin embargo. A tired mother unwilling to move to the back of the bus. Carriers of the initiative process in 20+ states that forced big money to begin cleaning our skies. The charismatic energy of the Koupal family heralded in the book "Ordinary People Doing the Extraordinary". A prescient movie line "Follow the money."

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Whom should you--and I--believe?

Lobbyists for the drug industry in 2022 led the PACS (Political Actions Subcommittees) by spending $373.74 million.

In 2022, the pharmaceuticals and health-products industry in the United States spent the most on lobbying efforts, totaling about 373.74 million U.S. dollars.

Why should healthy, insured, affluent white guys like me care?

By the 1970s, California's People's Lobby Inc. (PLI), led by an ex-used-car salesman, empowered by a hipster-looking working steering board, PLI was already deeply involved in cleaning the environment of lead, sulfur oxide emissions, DDT, nuclear garbage, et cetera; not only in California but in 20-plus western bloc-initiatives states; while challenging the numerous lobbying industries represented by them.

Today there are many environmental, regulatory, and legislative issues needing addressing. Here's one in the health field that Doctor Google might help cell phone-bound citizens as well as the hipster citizen activists understand.

This health issue relies on tremor-free Ronald Reagan's "Trust but verify." As Russia took down the wall, so too did citizen activists take the lead out of gasoline and smog out of the skies.

In the early 1970s, the advantages of adding a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor to treat Parkinson's Disease (PD) were discovered, seemingly gaining better PD-symptom control.

The first levodopa combination, carbidopa/levodopa, became commercially available in 1975. Here's information Doctor Google offers to those curious enough to hunt for good lobbyist free health advice. My preferences for these visits include the Mayo and Cleveland Clinics, National Institutes of Health, Web MD, etc. Ask Google yourself.

What are two major problems with levodopa?

Side effects

The most common side effects of levodopa are nausea, sleepiness, dizziness, and headache. More serious side effects can include confusion, hallucinations, delusions, agitation, and psychosis; these are more common in older people.

What are the long-term side effects of levodopa?

It has been clarified that long-term levodopa therapy in Parkinson's disease may pose various serious problems of adverse reactions, such as dyskinesia, wearing-off effect, on-off effect, mental symptoms, and frozen gait.

Dyskinesias usually begin after a few years of treatment with levodopa, the most prescribed PD medicine.

What triggers dyskinesia?

Dyskinesia is most caused by medications, such as long-term use of levodopa in Parkinson's disease and use of antipsychotic medications.

Pharma companies spent $390 million on federal and state lobbying in 2021.

The health sector's spending on federal lobbying rose 70% from 2000 to 2020, driven mostly by pharmaceutical and health product manufacturers and providers, visibly presented by well-paid and expensively dressed lobbyists prowling congressional halls...

How much has lobbying for carbidopa levodopa bettered the health of Americans?

For one, it unfortunately does little for the non-motor symptoms of PD. Secondly, because of its short half-life, levodopa requires frequent dosing. Even in conjunction with carbidopa, a decarboxylase inhibitor that prevents peripheral breakdown, the half-life is a mere 90 minutes and the duration of action only three to four hours. Finally, this recurrent cycle of medication kicking in and then wearing off with each administration leads to oscillations in plasma drug concentrations that, with chronic use (five to 10 years), contribute to motor complications in a sizable number of patients.

How much does levodopa cost in the US?

The cost for carbidopa/levodopa oral tablet (25 mg-100 mg) is around $14 for a supply of 30 tablets, depending on the pharmacy you visit.

Quoted prices are for cash-paying customers and are not valid with insurance plans.

According to Fortune Business Insights.

The global Parkinson's disease drugs market size was valued at US dollars (USD) $4,500.0 million in 2018, and is projected to reach USD $8,383.2 million by the end of 2026, exhibiting a growth rate of 8.1%.

A lot of money can be made selling these little yellow dope pills, while stifling better solutions.

Are the expensively suited lobbyists:

• Pedaling low prices,
• Selling millions,
• Addicting tens of millions,
• Marketing millions for 55 + years--and the Parkinson's problems continue to multiply,
• Creating more catch 22 unwelcome surprises for patients and profits for the doping industry?
• Are we doing enough research, clinical studies, and investments in cutting-edge answers like lasers, ultra-high frequency sound, portable neurological stimulators?
• When was the last time your doctor considered the side effects of carbidopa levodopa, and not-so-distant cousins?
• Isn't five-plus decades enough time to start pushing the medical industry to look for better solutions?

Excuse me if this essay has not been smooth and trouble free to read. I am trying to get back to tremor-free writing, eating, walking, sleeping, and reading. The journey has not been easy.

If you would like to read or listen to an audio book try The Brain's Way of Healing by Norman Doidge, MD. Here's what the book cover says :

Norman Doidge, M. D. is a psychiatrist, a psychoanalyst, and the New York Times best selling author of the Brain That Changes Itself, which was chosen by the Dana Foundation from over 30,000 titles as the best general book on the brain. It has sold over a million copies around the world. He is on the Research Faculty of the Center for Training and Research at Columbia University's Department of Psychiatry in New York City, and on the faculty of the University of Toronto's Department of Psychiatry. He lives in Toronto.

Dancing with the future of care:

Light Lounge

Ponstherapy.com

Books by Norman Doidge MD

Authors Website: http://peopleslobby.us/

Authors Bio:

Dwayne served in the Peace Corps in the slums of Mumbai, India, worked several Habitat Projects, and was on the start-up team of the California Conservation Corps. He has a Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University, has been a builder, teacher, political organizer, small businessman, affordable housing developer, and a rock-piler at Rubel's Castle. Some pics and stories at http://peopleslobby.us/more-projects/rubelia.

Some story tidbits about his recent well-regarded book about Rubel's Castle are available at http://peopleslobby.us/more-projects/rubelia.

In 2013 Rubelia was designated a National Historic Monument, right up there with Hearst Castle. CBS clip: Rubel's Castle is on verge of listing on National Registry http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/08/07/rubel-castle-in-glendora-on-the-verge-of-getting-national-historic-recognition/

Dwayne is presently Executive Director of People's Lobby Inc (PLI, 501c4)and People's Lobby's Education Foundation (PLEF, 501c3). You can read PLI's American World Service Corps Congressional Proposal (AWSC) at
http://peopleslobby.us/awsc-congressional-proposal

Rebuilding People'Lobby web site is available at http://peopleslobby.us/

Congresswoman Woolsey (D, CA) offered to introduce it in the 111th Congress, then retracted. Please contact your Congressional reps and ask them to become an original sponsor or cosponsor. The AWSC citizen-initiated congressional proposals could be, with you pushing your representatives, among the most significant legislation passed and implemented in decades. Imagine having 21 million Americans cost effectively doing good at home or abroad over the next 27 years.

In December 2009 Ralph Nader choose People's Lobby's book, "Ordinary People Doing the Extraordinary, The Story of Ed & Joyce Koupal's People's Lobby" as one of the Ten Best Books to Read for 2009. You can purchase the book from PeoplesLobby.us or learn more at http://peopleslobby.us/more-projects/books.

"This country runs on laws. If you want to change the country, write its laws," People's Lobby's founders Ed and Joyce Koupal used to say. If you want to enlighten public policy, involve millions of Americans in addressing public needs, prepare for climate weirding, etc., help make it happen. The AWSC addresses with people action many of our most pressing and costly needs. To sign the reopened American World Service Corps petition/letter, which contacts Congress for you: Paste http://www.change.org/petitions/view/field_21_million_american_world_service_corps_volunteers_over_the_next_27_years
Please help make the AWSC happen. To learn more about People's Lobby, visit the web site at www.Peopleslobby.us.

Recent books both available on line and from publishers: Every Town Needs a Castle (Prelude to next book, Every Country Needs a World Service Corps)
http://peopleslobby.us/more-projects/rubelia


Ordinary People Doing the Extraordinary (Nader's 2009 TopTen Books to Read List)
http://peopleslobby.us/archives/736
Library: http://peopleslobby.us/organizations/peoples-lobby/library