when to eat?

[GrandNan]

Hello - I've read differing posts/ information about how much before and how much after eating, when taking macuna for Parkinsons? I've read to take your levadopa/ macuna 1 hour before a meal, and either 2 hours after a meal, or 3-4 hours after a meal. I've read what I can, and am unable to find the information. Thank you in advance.

[Thal]

Also what you eat matters.

[GrandNan]

Good morning - yes, I've read about not having proteins around the time you take macuna or levadopa. But, is one able to eat a regular lunch 3 hours after taking the meds ok?

[jimcaster in reply to GrandNan]

Dr. J. Eric Ahlskog of the Mayo Clinic recommends taking carbidopa levodopa at least one hour before eating protein or two hours after eating protein. I think it's okay to eat food without protein any time. Your husband is certainly fine eating anything 3 hours after medication.

[caitilin in reply to jimcaster]

I’ve seen protein listed as an ingredient on many foods that contain no meat…

Not to be cheeky; but does levodopa (dopamine) differentiate between animal and plant proteins?

[GrandNan in reply to caitilin]

hello - when I was trying to research what not to eat around the time taking levadopa, it listed meats, cheeses, and nuts. But, only having to wait 2 hours in between taking levadopa & eating, made it easier

[caitilin in reply to GrandNan]

Thank you🙂

[Feargaire in reply to jimcaster]

My understanding is that protein is an essential part of any main meal

[Jana86 in reply to jimcaster]

Re: 3 hours after meds. That only works if you don’t have to repeat meds at 3 hours.

[GrandNan]

thank you JimCaster. We thought it was 4 hours after a meal, which stretches out things too far sometimes

[1953bullard]

I was told 30 minutes before or one hour after. That’s what I’ve done for years

[GrandNan in reply to 1953bullard]

Thank you 1953Bullard

[jimcaster in reply to 1953bullard]

That's probably closer to what I do, too. Dr. Ahlskog probably errs on the safe side.

[rebtar]

so how to eat if meds are less than 4 hours apart?

[GrandNan in reply to rebtar]

hello - what we do now, from all the helpful advice here: my husband takes his meds around 6:30 or 7 + waits 1 hour before he eats breakfast. Also, as a type 1 diabetic, he’s low-carb, so has some type of egg.

Then, after 2+ hours, he’ll take his meds @ 11:00, waits 1 hour and has lunch around 12 or 12:30

Then, he takes his meds around 4:00 and can eat anywhere between 5:15 -6:00

He takes his bedtime dose between 9-10:00

[Smittybear7 in reply to GrandNan]

What medication is he on and does it work through the night?Thanks

[GrandNan in reply to Smittybear7]

we have followed the advice on the forum and take 244 mg of standardized Macuna capsules, along with 1 capsule of green tea extract, 1 capsule of a Quercetin/ Vit C (both VitaCost brands) and 1 capsule of Source Naturals 5-HTP

From all I’ve read here, the green tea extract acts as the carbudopa, and the 5-HTP and Vit C-quercetin is also beneficial for the body in absorbing levadopa.

We also take a n Omega 3 with breakfast and dinner, an hour after medication