Does Sinemet Have Residual Benefits?

[jimcaster]

I have tried finding an answer through Google, but I wonder if sinemet confers some additional benefits after being used for awhile.

I began taking sinemet approximately three months ago. At first, I noticed a discernable benefit approximately one half hour after taking sinemet. That benefit lasted approximately four hours, which was consistent with what I expected.

Lately, I have have noticed benefits late at night and early in the morning, long after taking my last dose. I can brush my teeth normally with my right (affected) hand, my right arm swings freely when I walk, my handwriting is better than it was before I took sinemet, etc. I don't know if this is some type of prolonged benefit or just another example of placebo effects. I was very reluctant to take medication, but foot dystonia gave me no choice. I remain fearful about dyskinesia, but very satisfied for now.

Is there some residual benefit to Sinemet after a few months or am I just feeling "placebo effect?"

[lenamm]

There is definitely a long term effect with Sinemet. Before my surgeries I could go three days without it and have prolonged effects but it came at a cost, it would take me about two weeks to get back to where I was when I restarted it. The long term effect is rarely talked about.

[Kwinholt]

Jim, I am my best in the mornings and I think it’s bc I take my dose of 2 sinemets at night before bed and a dose of 2 in the morning. During the day when I’m supposed to be taking 2 at a time , I break them in half and take them every 2 hours just bc when I take to 2 whole sinemet at once I get very sleepy. Just now 8 years in , I’m having some dyskinesia in the mornings, I tried to cut my nighttime dose to one and 1/2 but my foot dystonia would start to act up in the middle of the night. I’m glad the meds are working for you. When I take them I can actually feel them working and feel my muscles loosening ect. I have never been at a point where I could skip a day of meds or even a dose of meds. Take care. Karen

[jeffreyn]

This thread (August 2020) may be of interest.

Natural history of motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease and the long-duration response to levodopa:

healthunlocked.com/parkinso...

[park_bear]

I find I get residual benefit for a day or so.

Pharmacokinetic studies measure plasma levels of levodopa. What is therapeutic is the dopamine level in the brain. So the levodopa has to get through the blood brain barrier and then get converted to dopamine to be effective. There is necessarily a lag.

I posted the single-dose plasma levodopa charts here:

healthunlocked.com/parkinso...

[Despe]

Jim,

Have you tried MP with Carbidopa?

[jimcaster in reply to Despe]

No, I haven't.

[Despe in reply to jimcaster]

Food for thought.

[Tryguy in reply to Despe]

Hello, I take Mucuna (100% Levodopa) with Carbodopa. Instead of the 4 to 1 ratio that sinamet is, I Worked out an approximate ratio of about 5.3:1 To get the optimal carbidopa benefit.

[Despe in reply to Tryguy]

Great!