I'm 48 and recently switched to a vegan diet. I suffer from Parkinson's but take only the min dose of sinemet daily. Half 100/25 x 3 daily. Since moving to veganism (my doctor provided pretty convincing evidence it helps a Parkinson's brain) my negative side effects from the sinemet are quite noticeable. I would like to try switching to Mucuna pruriens but work full time and I'm worried about withdrawal symptoms. I think I can manage my disease at least currently with the supplement. Any advice on dosage and how I may best transition or your experience with withdrawal. My neurologist is not a natural guy (believes in the gold standard) and unfortunately can't help me very much. I find our disease does leave you in trial and error anyhow on your own. Any advice I would really appreciate.
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Jenzo
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Perhaps the diet is providing an environment that allows more of your meds to reach the brain? An increase in side effects, for me personally. is because of either an increase or decrease in drug levels and can take 3months + to settle. Re: withdrawals, it will be dependent on your own body, length of time on sinemet, sadly like all else in pd so many variables and as you say you have to suck 'it and see'. Maybe ask your Dr about reducing sinemet to see if it eases the side effects but still gives you sufficient symptom control. If so, you're on the right track but under a Dr's care.
I’m 48 also. Diagnosed about five years ago. My neurologist originally put me on carbidopa/levodopa 100-25, 3 times a day. Unfortunately, I started getting dyskinesia after just a few months. I cut back on the c/l and am now down to 1 tablet a day (1/2 when I wake up, the other half in the evening, BUT it took a long time (years) to get down to this (headaches and nausea during withdrawal). Unfortunately, mucuna gives me dyskinesia as well, so my doctor (functional medicine… I gave up on the neurologist about three years ago), put me on amantadine, 100mg, twice a day. I still get dyskinesia, but it’s not as strong and, if I watch what I eat, I don’t get it at all.
A few other things that might interest you:
•Purchasing mucuna: I use Mucuna Pruriens powder, Zandopa, which is available on Amazon. I also take mucuna capsules by Now when I’m not able to prepare the powder version. It’s also available on Amazon.
•Dosage: Mucuna powder- ¾ tsp every 2.5- 3 hours; Capsules- 1 capsule every 2.5- 3 hours.
•Other supplements I take: Thiamin HCL (B-1), CoQ10, fish oil (I’ve got a zillion others, but these are the ones I take most consistently. If I had to pick only one to take, it would be the B-1.)
•Diet: I’ve tried them all- paleo, keto, raw, vegan, vegetarian, anti-inflammatory, fasting. What seems to work best for me is a mostly vegetarian diet (but I eat fish and use half and half in my coffee). I think the most helpful things for me, diet-wise, are limiting sugar (I really should eliminate it), no refined/processed foods, lots of veggies, lots of healthy fats (EV organic coconut oil, Almonds, and walnuts, mostly) and limited grain.
•Inflammation- I worked with a functional medicine doctor (Eric Potter, Sanctuary Medical, in Franklin, TN, USA) for two years before we figured out that #1) my inflammation was sky high (C4a was 26,000+), and #2) inflammation was probably caused by toxic levels of mold in my house—yikes! Dr. Potter diagnosed CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome), which means my body does not appropriately get rid of toxins. I am doing much better since totally remodeling my house and detoxing the mold out of my body (under Dr. Potter’s supervision). I highly recommend functional medicine.
They will tell you the equivalent to your pharma sinemet. Mine cam to 1/8th spoonful.
It helps to purchase a measuring 1/8 spoon, to be exact, from Amazon. There is no side effects from the product or from transitioning. Sometimes I will take half an old pill because I may need it in night and it's slightly easier to take a pill but I don't need the sinemet pills,
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