Can too much Mucuna cause Freezing?

[BonsaiKid]

My husband has recently started taking MacuDopa, a standardized mucuna supplement, but can't seem to get the dose right. After trying 1 & 1/2 caps every 2 hours his freezing and walking has become worse. Could this be due to too much mucuna or not enough? I have been told that 2 caps is a hefty dose. The caps are 700mg mucuna.

[CaseyInsights]

You will only know if it is ‘a hefty dose’ if you can say how much Levodopa per MacuDopa capsule.

Could not find it on their site - even though they claim it is ‘standardized’. Standardized to what value of Levadopa, I would ask.

Trust you have this information. If you don’t you are giving your husband something of which you know very little 🌺

[park_bear in reply to CaseyInsights]

Appalling that they make so much of "standardisation" yet do not disclose how much levodopa per dose.

[BonsaiKid in reply to CaseyInsights]

The capsules contain 100 mg L-Dopa.

[BonsaiKid in reply to CaseyInsights]

The capsules contain 100mg L-Dopa.

[Despe in reply to BonsaiKid]

Ask your doctor to prescribe plain Levodopa, (25 mg) and have your hubby take it with his MP. This is what my husband's MDS prescribed (Lodosyn) to add it to his MP (Barlowe's Mucuna Pruriens Brown Indian Extract 650mg, 40% L-Dopa). Several forum members take this mucuna pruriens.

[Juliegrace in reply to Despe]

You mean 25mg of carbidopa, not levodopa, right?

[Despe in reply to Juliegrace]

Yes, Julie, you are right! Sorry, my bad. CARBIDOPA not Levedopa.

[CaseyInsights]

On Freezing:

While the cause of freezing is unknown, many people with Parkinson’s freeze when they are due for the next dose of dopaminergic medications. This is called “off” freezing. Usually, freezing episodes lessen after taking the medicine.

This from the Parkinson Foundation site -

parkinson.org/library/fact-...

Will leave others to comment from their direct experience, but it seems to me you need professional help.

Thanks for the info on the capsules.

[BonsaiKid in reply to CaseyInsights]

We're having help from a Naturopath.

[CaseyInsights in reply to BonsaiKid]

To be sure a Naturopath is not a Movement Disorder Specialist (MDS).

I have looked at your profile and see a preference for ‘non-drug treatments’.

But sometimes this disease, does not allow you to have a preference. The consideration has to be what is the most effective form of treatment.

Additionally, I doubt very much a Naturopath can handle this very troublesome condition.

My advice remains: you need professional help 🌹

[JOHI in reply to CaseyInsights]

Naturopaths and functional med practitioners are absolutely qualified to handle PWP. My mom has been treating with a plethora of natural supplements for almost 10 years with success. The HDT B1 therapy has been a beneficial addition. My parents have been practical alt med for 35 years. They do not take so much as a Tylenol and in their mid and upper 80’s are in better health than most 35 yr olds! C/L caused more issues for my mom early in her diagnosis but when we switched from Pharma to naturals, she improved. Her neuro is fully supportive. Anytime you can avoid synthetic meds vs medical grade naturals it’s a good day! This is of course dependent upon the knowledge level of the naturopath and the willingness of the patient to commit to it. Otherwise the allopathic plan is better. Mom is 83 and I don’t feel she would be doing as well as she is if she had stayed on prescribed meds. Just our personal experience.

[LAJ12345]

does he freeze after about 90 minutes of taking it or more like 2-3 hours or more?

Every 2 hours seems a lot. Try spacing it out more to 2 1/2 hours and reduce the dose to 1 cap gradually starting with the last one in the day for the first day or so then the last 2 etc If he seems any better stop changing it for a bit.

[BonsaiKid in reply to LAJ12345]

He freezes all the time. So far none of the doses we've tried has helped.

[LAJ12345 in reply to BonsaiKid]

did he freeze in the same way before starting on the macudopa? If not it seems pretty clear that it was starting on the new supplement that is the issue.

So slowly reduce it. But don’t go cold turkey on it or it might cause problems too.

Has he been diagnosed with Parkinson’s? Does he take any medications too?

[PDBoxer]

5 years ago my neurologist instructed me to take 250 mg of Mucuna (L-Dopa) 3 times daily and it has worked very well for me. She calculated the dosage using my weight (140 pounds, 5'3"). I do exercise a lot also. (Boxing, pickleball)

[jocelyng in reply to PDBoxer]

does the Mucuna do enough for you that you don’t take other meds?

[PDBoxer in reply to jocelyng]

I take 1 mg Azilect (Rasagaline) and that's all.

[Juliegrace]

I start freezing as soon as my meds (c/l) kick in.

[marnegro in reply to Juliegrace]

me the same.

[HekateMoon]

For Mucuna to cross the blood brain barrier it needs either carbidopa ( in sinemet) or bensezaride, in madopar. If you can get carbidopa on its own that will help otherwise a mini dose of madopar or sinemet may help. Freezing sounds to me like the levodopa in mucuna didnt reach the brain. I was on mucuna for a year. Finally had to give it up.