Morning all. Just trying to get my head around the difference between these two? Also, Neurologist has me on Madopar CR during the night and immediate release during the day. I’m trying to work out what the purpose of immediate release is? Why not CR twice a day?
Thanks guys 💊😀
Rytary contains levodopa and carbidopa.
Madopar contains levodopa and benserazide.
The carbidopa and benserazide are taken to get more of the levodopa into the brain, where it can do some good. They are similarly effective.
Apart from the active ingredients in a dose, pharmacists can play around with coatings, which help to control the release of the drug, CR. Rytary uses three different types of beads to give a longer lasting, smoother effect.
At first sight it seems good to have a CR pill with a longer lasting effect. The problem is that the longer the pill is in the stomach, the less accurately that the pill follows your needs. The immediate release, IR, pill is effective faster and more reliable.
whilst you’re here, would you explain what the COMT class of drugs are and comment on your perceived efficacy or value?
I've also heard, even by neurologists, the CR being referred to as standing for cr*ppy reliability due to the slow absorption problems. I had about 7yrs use of only CR until it became too unreliable. IR is now much better but off periods are more obvious, although this could obviously just be progression.
how do you deal with the off periods
I dot think we do do we? Everyone asks for a solution and I don’t think that there is one . That’s why it’s such a *hit disease. Apomorphine pen
It’s all very complicated...the more I know the less I know. Have you tried taking Madopar with lemon juice to improve bioavailability ? CDP-choline can make medication more effective, I haven’t tried CDP on my husband I tend to stick to natural foodstuffs such as fresh lemon in this case and starve him of food (especially proteins) for two hours before/after Madopar. x
Doses nearly every 3 hours to make sure there’s a bit of overlap. Can sometimes stretch it a bit longer if the stars align (mainly relating to a good nights sleep)
I'm only on three pills a day. Would you suggest cutting them in half and taking them4 hours instead of every eight? Thanks for your help
You could try, as long as they're not the controlled release version which shouldn't be cut. It may give you a more even release of levodopa
I use the generic version of C/L CR only and it works very well for me. The difference between CR and Rytary is the latter is even longer acting.
do you experience any side effects
what is difference between the two
my hubby was put on the cr madopar and it nearly killed him as he kept wanting to kill himself. Also it made his throat constrict and muscles spasm.
Blimey! 😳
yeah so if you have started feeling worse since being on it you could try going onto the ir ones only and see if you feel any better. He now takes the madopar tablets. He used to take the capsules but I think the tablets are better as they can be cut. And I am deeply suspicious about him ingesting so much blue given we are eliminating all additives in food!
Can we get Rytary in UK?
Don’t know. Don’t think so. It’s never been offered to me.
I read at least 2 years ago that it was going to be called Numient here but has not been licensed in Europe yet.
i have successfully combined IR C/L with CR for a while now . I take 1.25 IR with 1 CR every four hours. I was having more wearing off due to food disorganization, i tried two IR instead, but the combo seems to work better ( if i am more organized with food). I do get a bit of dyskinesia in the evening - but not bothersome at this point.
Herewith visualized the longer duration of effect of Rytary compared to the standard Sinemet IR and CR. Probably the levels of Madopar and Sinemet will be about the same. Although the pictures are from the Rytary website, they give a good idea of the principle.
madopar vs sinemet
Switching from C/L CR to Rytary?
Sinemet IR or Sinemet CR??
Anyone Taking Both Sinemet and CR ?
