DOES YOUR SINEMET "KICK IN" TIME VARIES? IF SO WHY?

[OREOLU]

Hi Friends,

Kind contribute in this discussion,if you have had my type of experience.I have been on sinemet for almost 4years now.Recently,I noticed that sometimes my kick in waiting period lasts for 30mins or 45mins or an hour.In the mornings,it usually about 30mins. I keep wondering why this is happening. Your usual response would be appreciated.

[johntPM]

A few things that may change the time that it takes for your drugs to kick in come to mind:

- Do you eat breakfast in this time? Eating can both decrease (e.g. gastric emptying) or increase (e.g. protein) the time it takes levodopa to be absorbed;

- Overnight the brain is updating its dopamine levels. Come the morning, dopamine reserves may vary from day to day.

- The threshold effect. Some people have a rapid change from "off" to "on" and v.v. After the pill is taken levodopa concentrations increase, but, until the threshold is reached, have little effect. If your threshold is high, it will take longer to reach.

- Exercise, I find my pills are more rapidly effective if I exercise.

- There may be varying amounts of levodopa in pills with nominally the same weight.

John

[OREOLU in reply to johntPM]

Hi johntPM.

Thanks for your explanation.

[PDGal4]

My neurologist suggests taking with a full glass of water to aid stomach emptying. Levodopa is absorbed in the small intestine. I think it does take minimum 30 minutes, however. I've also heard absorption is helped by taking with something acidic, such as lemon squeezed in water, Emergenc-C (which has Vit C), or even Vit C.

[OREOLU in reply to PDGal4]

Thanks for your insight PDGal4.

[Hidden]

FYI, if you crush instantaneous release c/l tabs, add them to water, and then drink, it will take effect in about 20 minutes...

[OREOLU in reply to Hidden]

Hi Levod, oh really,I will try that. Thanks for another idea.