Meds just don't work.

[Bailey_Texas]

Why do my meds sometimes just don't work. I happens at least 1 time a day .

[Hidden]

I believe that it is called a “failed dose”. I am not sure that they have an answer for that.

[dadcor in reply to Hidden]

may be due to the food in your stomach, you may try intermittent fasting and they will.. and may be also you will find out you won't need some dose...

[aspergerian in reply to dadcor]

Also: food remnants in jejunum , ileum, and rest of intestine. Transit time.

mayoclinic.org/digestive-sy...

healthline.com/health/how-l...

amp-dailytelegraph-com-au.c...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

[Pelley]

That was the problem that finally pushed me over the edge into DBS. I was making 32 pills a day when you combine equip,sinimet,comton,amantadine and some vitamin supplements. Problem was exactly that. It was a crapshoot if the would do what they were supposed to do consecutively. & years later.....DBS is running well inspire of progressions and Neuro wanted to ad letters to my PD dx. (MSA). It doesn't change anything, except maybe getting to the end a little more efficiently........

[Kevin51]

They need to be actively "digested" so there has to be a limited time for that happen before the meds move on in your gut. They don't just dissolve and take effect. So the state of our gut matters and it makes sense to look after it as best we can. I found taking a probiotic helped my response. Best

[croberson]

Are you eating right before you take your meds? I have found that high protein foods tend to interfere with my bodies ability to make use of my PD meds. Taking PD meds on an empty stomach seems to speed up the PD meds onset, and the meds seem to work better. It also works better if I wait at least 30 minutes after taking the PD med before eating

[PDGal4]

Ugh, so frustrating. I have heard that constipation can slow down absorption and contribute to dose failure. Have also read acids such as Emergen-C or OJ can help absorption. Could it also be you require a larger dose that one time of day?

[alaynedellow]

I take slow release modopar and have no issues on effectivness. Even take with food and still works. Maybe tey long release?

[tarz]

You see, the brain needs levodopa in order to overcome the various symptoms of PD. Levodopa is an amino acid, so it can only get to the brain by absorption through the amino acid receptors located in the small intestines.

When these receptors are already being used to absorb other amino acids, the levodopa must wait until the receptors are no longer occupied. Thus, if you take the meds when other amino acids are present, the symptoms of PD cannot be attenuated on the expected schedule.

Protein foods are composed of the amino acids that can interfere with the absorption of levodopa, and protein foods tend to be digested at a slow rate, and this becomes even slower when there is more food in the stomach

My own digestion rate is such that I find that if I want to avoid the symptoms of PD, I need to wait at least five hours to take meds (mucuna), after eating protein foods. This works out well, for me since I only feel the need to take the meds when I am going to bed. So if I eat supper by six o'clock, it works perfectly.

[AaronS]

I have just this week, reduced meat intake to a little bit at dinner, my meds are kicking in better overall I'd say. I'm going to try it more by removing further animal products such as milk and cheese and products of that nature, as I'm kinda suspecting animal proteins make it harder for the meds to be absorbed and if they do get absorbed they seem to not last as long