Question: I was mistakenly diagnosed as having Parkinson's and was started on Levodopa/carbadopa--I had all the terrible side effects that I have just read about. I understand that Levodopa can cause Pemphigus--I have small blisters on my scalp and face. I was initially treated with Minocyclin and topical Mupiricin but it did not clear up the problem. I'm going to see another dermatologist because the first one diagnosed folliculitis then changed to acne. I have had 3 serious misdiagnoses in the past 5 years and this probably will make 4 misdiagnoses, so I would like to get as much information as I can to be able to get the correct diagnosis for these eruptions as I have had a number of problems in a row, whereas I was always unbelievably healthy all my life. I'm 71 yrs. old.

I wrote you a long, detailed account of my medical history and problems, did you receive it?4

I became extremely weak with parkinson-like symptoms and diarrhea becoming progressively worse--Had to retire due to severe exhaustion--went to neurollogist--dx'd with Parkinson's--had also lost my memory--dx'd with Demenia--put on levodopa/carbodopa and Aricept--had many side effects--hallucinations, bad dreams, strange thoughts, diarrhea became constant and uncontrolable and was vomiing uncontrolably--in bed for 17 months--on left side and could not even turn over because I wasd so weak--lost 37 lbs-severely dehydrated--in hospital x4 with no improvement--was dx'd with gastroperisis but not tested until 3rd hosp.--did not have gastroperisis but doctor kept insisting that I did--daughter found new GI doctor--he said that the doctor had caused permanent injury to my bile duct when he removed my gall bladder--new doctor gave me Cholestyramine--raised dose x2 and after 2 weeks+ the diarrhea slowly began to improve and vomiting got a little better. The doctor who prescribed levodopa and aricept disappeared--noone knew what happened--eventually I found a new neeeeurologist who continued to prescribe same meds--eventually, I insisted that I was not going to continue the levodopa but continued on the aricept--continued to have terrible side effects and also experienced 11days of mania, also--immediately stopped aricept and tried to detox myself with cranberry juice, tea etc. because I had heard in my profession (social worker) that this is used in detox centers--eventually neurologist acknowledged this mistake and I continued to get better--my pseudoparkinson's was caused by Paxil (antidepressant)--I'm currently on Venlafaxine 100 bid--also take generic hyzaar--I'm diabetic x12 yrs--now on insulin x1 yr.--2nd GI doctor said I was close to death when he saw me and prescribed Cholestyramine--when I was severely ill and in bed x17 months, I developed a sore on top of my left ear which was the one I was lying on x17 months--initially dx'd by primary and dermatologist as bacil cell carsanoma--biopsy was normal--treated with topical ointment but sore woud not heal--after 3 or 4 steroid injections in the site, it finally healed--I continued to improve slowly and began developing these little blisters--they DO NOT ITCH--they are quite painful--was treated by another dermotologist with minocycline and topical mupiricin--dx'd with foliculitis--then changed to acne--eruptions would get better but would come right back x2or3 yrs--currently back and much worse--my endocrinologist referred me to another dermotologist--will be seeing him soon but would like to get as much info as possible to get correct diagnosis--I researched scalp and face skin disorders and the one that seems to match the best is some type of pemphigus????? Any info you can give me would be greatly appreciated.. Thank you.