Levodopa and food: slows uptake but gives you more in the long run?

[johntPM]

According to FDA prescribing information:

"In healthy adults, oral administration of Rytary after a high-fat, high-calorie meal reduced Cmax approximately 21% and increased AUCinf approximately 13% for levodopa compared to administration in the fasted state. There may be a delay by 2 hours in the absorption of levodopa when Rytary is taken with a high-fat, high-calorie meal. In addition, absorption of levodopa may be decreased by a high protein meal."

These are pharmacokinetic measures

CMAX is the maximum levodopa plasma concentration.

AUCinf is the area under the curve to infinity.

Ref: drugs.com/pro/rytary.html

I don't think that these results are specific to Rytary alone, They are likely, I think, to apply to C/L too.

I knew about the CMAX effect and the protein effect, but the AUC effect is new to me. Does anyone make use of this effect to get a bit more out of their levodopa?

John

[kaypeeoh]

I was told not to eat protein with Rytary. It's an amino acid and competes for absorption with other amino acids.

[johntPM in reply to kaypeeoh]

Yes. That's what the source that I quoted said."absorption of levodopa may be decreased by a high protein meal."

John

[hercules957 in reply to kaypeeoh]

There are differences between patients. There is no difference when I take a meal with Sinemet.

[HekateMoon]

I dont eat meat nor dairy and most my heavy protein meals (fish, lentil currys, beans etc)tend to be in the evening, however sometimes i have some seeds and nuts with my porridge about 30 or 45 min after my morning madopar and some hummus (Chikpea and tahini) with my salad for lunch. Would vegetable source protein be as hard a competitor as meat or fish?

[ev2413 in reply to HekateMoon]

Hi HekateMoon,I was diagnosed as a PWP March this year and have since then have been on

Sinemet 12.5/50 2 tablets three time a day. I am aware of the need to avoid protein at time of medication, by, typically quoted 1/2 to 1 hour before and a hour to two hours after medication. Is a longer time gap between medication and meal times more beneficial?

Could you share some of your Lo/no protein meals (I am a fish eating vegetarain).

Regards to you,

ev

[HekateMoon in reply to ev2413]

Hi ev2413.Early morning...about 9 ish i take opicapone and b1 along with magnesiun threonate and other non clash supplements. About half an hr to an hr later i take black coffee 3 madopar 50/ 12.5. With this im keeping some intermitent fasting. I leave about 45 min to an hr to have porridge with berries and fruit and some seeds, chia, flax, sesame or a green and berry smoothie with ginger, turmeric, spirulina broccoli... About 2.30 pm i take 2 and a half madopar then 30 min later salad, buckwheat tortilla and maybe some hummus or beans or veggie stirfry. About 6.30 i take 2 and a half madopar. Dinner is about 7ish...i go to bed at 11pm i take 2 madopar, plus magnesium, plus 10mg melatonin...an go to sleep. If there is stress il wake at about 4am...i meditate and fall asleep at about 5 ish and up again at 9 ish. Was dx jan 21 but clear symptoms dec 18...and many years prior unexplained pains, rigidity etc. I walk dance and do chi kung. Starting red light therapy and doing bowen therapy every couple weeks

[ev2413 in reply to HekateMoon]

Thank you HekateMoon for your comprehensive response, your porridge sounds very appealing.

Madopar and Sinemet seem to be similar in aim, but not identical. Avoiding protein is not very easy to do.

Is your magnesium and melatonin on prescription, or more something you have found, through trial and error, to be effective?

I agree with your comment on unexplained pains etc.

I had not heard of Bowen therapy but will google.

Also very interested in red light therapy.

Regards to you.

[HekateMoon in reply to ev2413]

Hi Ev2413. Melatonin, magnesium and indeed all my supplements I mostly found here. I follow a few people that i trust and try what works for them . Also reading books. B1 therapy for instance. I tried my red light helmet today...looks funny...here comes the parky martian...🤣🤣🤣

[ev2413 in reply to HekateMoon]

Surely more Greek Goddess than parky martian , going by name of course

[HekateMoon in reply to ev2413]

Yes, goddess of the crossroads and witches. Must do some "magic" to keep well, Ev. Stay well. Keep coming back.

[Buckholt]

All food tends delay absorption for me. I find Levodopa works well but reliability of action is really important so I avoid food as far as possible away from medication times

[HekateMoon in reply to Buckholt]

Buckholt, how is your absortion? I find that if im regular i can eat after about half an hr or so after madopar no probs. If at all constipated i have more fluctuations.

[Buckholt in reply to HekateMoon]

I use Madopar too and it works well on a fasted state. Food can interfere so I generally eat only once the med has kicked in