Hello. My (new) neurologist has suggested Opicrapone, which he says prevents spme protein from interferring with the usage of Dopamine, and therefore I should be able to decrease my Sinemet dosages. Has anyone else tried this, and if so, what was the outcome? Were you able to decrease the C/L, and how much? Side effects?
Thankd
It looks like a remarkable medication, combating your off time by helping extend the time your levodopa is active, by retarding the enzyme that deactivates the levodopa.
willowone123 I took Opicapone for one week until the side effects became intolerable and I had to stop. Don't let me put you off though - you may be ok and I hope you are 
Th6
I have recently (21 days ago) started opicapone.
I mainly have dystonias that are dopamine responsive and some bradylinesia and slight postural imbalance which also respond to dopamine. However I had troublesome dyskinesias within 2-3 months of starting L dopa.
But without the L dopa the dystonias were life impacting so I chose to put up with them.
Opicapone has made a modest decrease in my levodopa requirement already. I have reduced my daily requirement by 25%.
It does not start immediately and dramatically (for those who respond).It may take upto 3 months according to the product literature. I noticed the change after about 10 days.
My on dyskinesias have reduced since about Day 15 but I have also been concentrating on not letting emotions get in the way as they were an aggravating factor.
I still work in a dynamic and pressured healthcare setting so its not easy to avoid these situations.
Opicapone works by attaching to the same COMT receptors as dopamine COMT enzyme breaks down dopamine. By attaching itself to the enzyme the breakdown of dopamine is slowed a bit.
Whether this can be sustained is not clear ; the body may adapt its COMT to circumvent or down grade the interaction at the receptor.
Side effects : in some people the very mechanism can increase on symptoms.
I have a bit of gastric irritation taking it on a relatively empty stomach at night. Also if I have my evening meal late then I need to make sure I dont fall asleep before I have had the opicapone.
But reducing the on dyskinenesias has made it worth while for me in this short period.
Thank you
Side effects:
More common
Twitching, twisting, uncontrolled repetitive movements of the tongue, lips, face, arms, or legs
Less common
Blurred visionconfusiondizziness, fainting, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting positionheadachenervousnesspounding in the earsseeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not thereslow or fast heartbeatsweatingunusual tiredness or weakness.
Generic cd / ld fail?
Incontinence - A major problem
Debilitating Sleep issues!
Massive facial hair 🙁
