Madopar not working without food

[Bazillion]

Hi everyone long time since I posted.Strange thing has been happening .Third and forth dose of Madopar doesn’t work UNTIL I have a snack after I’ve I’ve taken it! Boy then I’m really on for a 2-21/2 hrs. has anyone else experienced this?Very frustrating but can deal with it!

[MissRita]

So ? For you, what is the difference between this medication and Sinemet?

I find that the same thing happens to me when I take the levodopa/carbidopa. I think what happens is when you eat your digestive tract starts to metabolize a little bit quicker and when you metabolize food quicker it moves everything else along so hence I have to assume your medication gets pushed along as well so it starts to work quicker at that point.

[Bazillion in reply to MissRita]

Both drugs carry as an active substance (this is the part of the medication that has therapeutic effect). Sinemet carries 250 mg of L-Dopa and Madopar 200 mg of L-Dopa.

The difference is also that sinemet, apart from L-Dopa also carries a substance called carbidopa (25 mg) that serves to make L-Dopa have fewer sequendary effects. While Madopar, what carries, in addition to L-Dopa is benserazide (50 mg), which has the same goal, to reduce the side effects of L-Dopa.

[MissRita in reply to Bazillion]

Oh ok thx.

[park_bear in reply to MissRita]

Levodopa has to get pushed out of the stomach because it is absorbed by the small intestine.

[Bazillion in reply to park_bear]

Hi ,really weird has only just started happening last couple of months ,at least I know I can deal with it,It’s nothing to do with protein just,need to push it along!

[MissRita in reply to park_bear]

Yes!! 👏👏👏

[Buckholt in reply to park_bear]

This being the case, why isn’t the dispersible version more popular, more mainstream?

[park_bear in reply to Buckholt]

I have not the slightest idea, but the fact remains levodopa is absorbed in the small intestine.

[Buckholt in reply to park_bear]

Thanks. I wonder whether it might allow finer control of symptoms and fluctuations, given that variable strength solutions could be made in small dosing bottles and easier experimentation of timing and dose? Perhaps the faster onset to peak could lead to dyskinesia? Or maybe the smoothing of response might reduce that risk? Might take it up with my neurologist on the next visit, but he will probably think the whole idea too much “like a full time job”.

[park_bear in reply to Buckholt]

It all depends upon how important quick onset is to you. Personally what matters to me is slow, steady and uniform. Each of us is different, so if you need this by all means have at it.

[Blatch]

Yes I made the same experience. Second dose at 10.00 and fourth dose at 16.00 only works with some small snack.....no chance to reduce my weight 😉