Artificial sweetened Cola drinks rapid relief?

[Perno]

Hi, i was dx with PD in 2014, and started out with selegilin and Requip (dopamin agonist), later adding L-DOPA (Madopar/Sinemet) and entakapon. Altogether enabling me to work full time, and I am convinced this would not be possible without such a «cocktail».

Still, episodes of fatigue with loss of energy and muscular weakness can make it hard to continue whatever I am doing. I get some relief from taking an extra dose of L-DOPA, but I try to avoid this.

So, incidentally I noticed that some energy drinks, and even more so cola beverages with artificial sweetener, quickly improved my «energy level». It litterally got me «going again»!

Question 1:

Is this a common experience amongst people with PD??

Question 2:

Interestingly, the label declares that the beverage contains a source of phenylalanine. Now, this is to warn patients with certain metabolic disorders with intolerance of this substance. But phenylalanine is a precursor of L-DOPA....... Is there a link here?

Or, it may just be the coffeine?

[park_bear]

I vote for caffeine as the active ingredient.

[iRobot]

Hello- before I was diagnosed with PD in 2016, I was self-medicating with a cocktail of OTC medications. These include

Advil *ibuprofen

Migraine tablet (acetaminophen, aspirin, caffeine)

Nasal decongestant tablet (phenylephrine)

All washed down with a diet Coke to which was added one packet Equal,

I believe this is what slowed the progression of the disease. I believe I was on a plateau for more than 10 years!

I don't believe it was any one chemical that was helping, but all chemicals working in synchronicity. I am contemplating going back to this. Right now, expense is the one thing that is stopping me.

[Pelley]

my blood pressure used to drop dramatically when I took sinimet. Now its all over the place at anytime of the day....... Sometimes it seems I'm trying to match the numbers Now that you mention it, diet coke is a friend!

[MarionP]

I guess it would have to depend on which soda and what the ingredients list says. Sometimes aspartame is one of them. Aspartame contains phenylalanine and is definitely a neurostimulant and has arousal effects...I get hives and my atopic skin itching greatly worsens and so does my "inside itching" in my trachea and I also have an asthma attack whenever I have it in much quantity, so I have some sort of allergic response that only Benadryl can quiet...perhaps that or in combination with caffeine does it for you.

[Ramuu]

Sorry , I have not taken L - Dopa. I'm managing with Kapikachu (.Indian raw Mucuna ).

[bassofspades]

Caffeine and phenylalanine make a nice rescue once in a while. I wouldn't use it to often because soda is bad for you.

[Ep0522]

I believe it’s the phenylalanine. I get the same response with chocolate. It also contains Phenylethylamine, which converts to phenylalanine.