Fast acting Levodopa?

[Zardoz]

I recall that somebody had written about making a quick acting levodopa by grinding up a tab of Sinemet or dissolving it in carbonated water or.... ?

My memory is bad on this because I had no need for it at the time. My understanding is that levodopa needs to reach and be absorbed in the small intestine, so the drug needs much time to kick in. There are times however, when the levodopa is needed right away.

Does anyone recall the post to have thoughts about getting levodopa absorbed faster?

[laglag]

There are two meds that I know of that will speed up the delivery;1. Parcopa ODT (oral dissolving tablet)

2. Inbrija (inhalation method)

🥊

[Zardoz in reply to laglag]

Here's what Google says about the cost of Inbrija:

"The cost for Inbrija inhalation capsule 42 mg is around $1,112 for a supply of 60, depending on the pharmacy you visit."

Only MJF can afford that.

[laglag in reply to Zardoz]

I know what you mean! I take Gocovri and it's $3,500/60. I only pay $20. I've been getting a special deal until I turn 65. Í just turned 65 in August but so far they are still charging me $20.

[enjoy2013 in reply to laglag]

Nice! Is it delayed -release amantadine? Does it make a ďifference?

[laglag in reply to enjoy2013]

Yes, my off times are a little less and I sleep a lot better. But....if I had to pay full price or even half, it wouldn't be worth it.

[Nitro53]

You can try placing it under your tongue which would hit the blood stream faster, not sure how it would taste

[laglag in reply to Nitro53]

That's what you do with parcopa, it's made to dissolve under the tongue. It's kinda minty tasting. It works in about 15 minutes and lasts for about the same as regular C/L.

[johntPM]

Dissolve L/C immediate release in ascorbic acid.

For the effect of L/C and ascobic acid in solid form, see:

researchgate.net/publicatio...

They give details of the pharmacokinetic parameter TMAX: the average time to maximum concentration.

L/C TMAX = 45 minutes

L/C/ascorbic acid (solid) TMAX = 38 minutes

but there's a huge amount of scatter. Try it and see.

[LAJ12345]

or if you know when you want it to peak take it 90 minutes earlier.

[Ley0]

my mds had me dissolve it in sparkling water and sip throughout the day. I now take the oral pills you dissolve on your tongue

[PDsux_10 in reply to Ley0]

Hi, what dose and drug did you dissolve in the water and how often would you drink it?Thx

Mel

[Ley0 in reply to PDsux_10]

I would crush up my pills for the day and add them to sparkling water. My doctor had me just sip it throughout the day.

I now take the dissolvable CL. you just place the pill on your tongue and it dissolves rapidly.

[PDsux_10 in reply to Ley0]

Ok wow, well my husband has rapid madopar, but his drugs seem to cause so much dyskinesia dystonia, I was thinking maybe sipping a drink throughout the day would be better for him? Hard to say anymore. He's now afraid of the drugs now and I don't blame him. I might have to see if crushing his madopar into a drink will be a smoother way for him to dose. Thank you.Cheers

Mel

[Curious_Fred]

Yes. The drug already exists approved by EMA. Available in America it is called Inbrija (works in 10 minutes). Very effective. The European Parkinson Therapy Centre has many American guests who take Inbrija and Rytary (long lasting Levodopa). Much less off time and a solution if you do go off. Rytary is NOT available in Europe. Inbrija does not have production to supply. (They are building a factory in Spain which will only be available in Spain!) unfair YES,

[puretone]

Dr. Eric Ahlskog talks about this, you crush your normal Madopar/Sinemet dose and dissolve it in water or juice to take as an emergency dose (he mentions going off while you're golfing as an example). I seem to remember him saying it will kick in around twice as quickly as a normal oral dose. Ideally you keep doses 3.5 hours apart.

[Deforel_Ch]

... or you can take Madopar LIQ 62.5 mg tablet to be dissolved in water.

[Sane1]

I take Sinemet ER (extended release) tablets. It usually takes about 60-90 minutes to kick in. I recently asked my neuro if there was something I could take if I needed extra coverage that would work quickly ( especially in stressful situations). He offered me a rx for Sinemet IR (immediate release) taken on or under the tongue. It is supposed to work in about 30 minutes. I haven’t taken any yet so can’t attest to how it works. Just wanted to let you know that there are a few IRs available.

[bradykin]

You can chew it and wash it down with water.

There is no need to put it under your tongue, for as you say it is absorbed through the small intestine.

You will feel the effect in about 20 minutes (versus about an hour if it is not crushed).

[jackedmonston]

i take two fast acting drugs. Both are under the tongue. One is carbid Itopa/levodopa 10-100, dissolvable. The other is apomorphine, brand name KynMobi, a dopamine agonist. It starts working in tenj minutes

[perilousseas]

I grind 25/100 immediate release C/L tablets for my 93-year-old father. I put 1-1/2 pills in the spice grinder with 1/8 tsp. ascorbic acid powder and grind it up. I put it in about a cup of his preferred juice and give him about 1/3 of a cup per dise, which I figure works out to 1/2 a tablet. I've seen it work in as little as 10 minutes, though typically a little longer. I adapted the instructions from a review article: Varanese, et al.: Treatment of Advanced Parkinson's Disease, available in full text from PubMed Central.

[M-o-ggy]

Hi there. From the e cells to advice given hereoverthe years. In no particular order 1) If taking pills make sure you lean / lay to the right as this will increase the speed of uptAke. Leaning/ Laying on your left side will hinder uptAke ( I believe this is from John Hopkins uni but not sure). 2) Take pills with sparkling drink 3) dissolve pills in sparkling water and ascorbic acid and take sips at frequent intervals.