Is the levodopa in sinement any different then the levodopa in mucuna?

[pdslayer]

This may be a stupid question but Is the levodopa in sinement any different then the levodopa in mucuna? one synthetic vs one natural? the levodopa crosses the blood brain barrier with inclusion of carbidopa and the levodopa in mucuna has nothing aiding this transfer thus less reaches the brain (unless you pair w/ Vitamin C, EGCG, Fish oil, etc)? is the synthetic worse then the natural? does it have more negative effects (i.e. higher chance of dyskanisas, etc)? Can anyone share feedback with regards to this question? if they are chemically the same then why prefer one over the other?

[MBAnderson]

Levodopa is levodopa is levodopa, i.e., either the molecules are identical or it's not levodopa, so there is no difference. Put MP in the search window here as there are several dozen very thorough discussions. In brief, MP is better absorbed, quicker acting, longer-lasting, and with less dyskinesia. It's the rest of the plant responsible for this. You would do well to research this before you start taking it because getting the dose right is tricky.

[Juliegrace]

I have dyskinesia with carbidopa/levodopa, 100% l-dopa MP and 20% l-dopa MP. All at fairly low doses.

[sudoku123 in reply to Juliegrace]

Julia,

Happy Holidays. I also have diskinesia even with small dose carbidopa/levodopa. How much you use MP and is it better?

[Juliegrace in reply to sudoku123]

I had dyskinesia with as little as 40mg of 100% l-dopa MP. This was the nutravita brand that several people here use. With the lower l-dopa percentage MP, however much I had to take to get an effect, I also had dyskinesia. For me, there was no benefit to taking a powder form of l-dopa with accompanying supplements or multiple capsules of MP with inconsistent results, so I take 10/100 carbidopa/levodopa as my only form of levodopa at the present time. I take 250-400mg total daily, along with 100mg amantadine twice daily.

[sudoku123 in reply to Juliegrace]

Julie,

How you tolerate the C/Levodopa? I also take Amantadine, only 3 times.

Any advice? I agree about MP.

[Juliegrace in reply to sudoku123]

I respond well to c/l, but I've had dyskinesia almost from the start. I live with it because the alternative is complete incapacitation. I definitely do better on the 10/100 than the 25/100 and I plan to try the controlled release (CR) version sometime in the coming year.

[sudoku123 in reply to Juliegrace]

Thank you.

[Farooqji]

source:nootropicsexpert.com

Mucuna Pruriens vs. L-DOPA: What’s the Difference?

Mucuna Pruriens is an extract of the velvet bean plant that grows 3 – 18 meters in height. L-DOPA (levodopa) is usually synthetic and made in the lab.

The natural version of L-DOPA from Mucuna Pruriens is generally well-tolerated by most people. And the compounds in the plant are bio-identical to those chemicals naturally made in your body. Not so with synthetic L-DOPA.

Synthetic L-DOPA is metabolized into dopamine in your body by an enzyme called aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC). And the majority of synthetic L-DOPA will be converted peripherally (not in the central nervous system and brain). This can cause problems.

So when used therapeutically, as in treating Parkinson’s Disease, L-DOPA is administered in combination with an inhibitor of peripheral AADC. Drugs like carbidopa (or other AADC inhibitors) ensure most of the L-DOPA is preserved for conversion to dopamine in the brain. And not the rest of your body.

This is critical for nootropic users to keep in mind. Chronic, or prolonged use of synthetic L-DOPA can lead to things like dyskinesia. This is a movement disorder where neurological discoordination results in uncontrollable, involuntary movements.[iii]

We’re not telling you this to dissuade you from using L-DOPA. Stick with an extract of Mucuna Pruriens and you should be fine

[WinnieThePoo]

Interesting. My stepson Harry is with us for Christmas and we were due to go skiing but the snow is poor. So we went to the beautiful Mediterranean port of Collioure. To a tapas bar. Usual stuff, great oysters

And a dish of feves (broad beans) in cumin. Guess whose Parkinson's symptoms vanished?