I would like to know if Mucuna Pruriens can increase dyskinesia. I know the medications can have that effect. My Husband used to take pramiprexole and Stalevo. Now he only takes Stalevo since we have introduced Mucuna. It works great. My Husband could barely walk and now he walks and can function normally without hardly any symptoms but I find him agitated and dyskinesia seems to have increased. If I give him less Mucuna, his off times and symptoms come back. Any suggestions anyone? We use the Mucuna powder. Thanks
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It does not matter whether the levodopa comes from stalevo or mucuna, it can still cause dyskinesia. What you need is a disease modifying intervention that will allow him to reduce his dosage. Here are some disease modifying treatments that I and others have found helpful. Implement the thiamine and the cinnamon one at a time and see how one works before proceeding with the other:
How great that your husband benefits so much from Mucuna. I have been using it for over a year now and am satisfied. Dyskinesia should actually decrease and not increase, but I have it sometimes too. It is a bit of a struggle to find the right balance between whether or not carbidopa is present in the mucuna. After a year I found it and now the Dyskinesia is usually not present. Do you know the Facebook group MucunaPruriensParkinson? I can highly recommend it. It is a nice, very interactive group.
So how does MP cross the BBB?? My understanding is that you would need a significant amount of MP in order for a small amount to cross the BBB and this large amount of MP would be nauseating…. That’s why they add levodopa to Carbidopa… to stop it breaking down before it crosses the BBB….
You can take it without carbidopa, but you will need more (4x as much). I have made a quick summary of how to calculate how much mucuna you need. You can find it under the heading 'files' in the Facebook group Mucuna Pruriens Parkinson.
L-Dopa crosses the BBB on it's own. Carbidopa does not cross the BBB. Carbidopa is added to inhibit peripheral conversion of L-Dopa to Dopamine because Dopamine does not cross the BBB.
Sorry if this is a silly question or I misunderstand but levodopa eg; Madopar, sinemet need carbidopa to help it cross the BBB otherwise it will breakdown in the body (periphery) and not cross the BBB. So how does mucuna purines cross the BBB?
Interesting…I use the powder and have no idea how concentrated it is. Makes it harder to gage the dosage but it certainly works well. Are you taking any medication still? Do you think it is possible to phase off all meds eventually? Do you know if I need to supplement with anything else? Thank you for your response and also recommending the Facebook group. Much appreciated!!
It may not be necessary to completely discontinue all medications. Dr Maldonado's latest book (Vademecum, you can order it from Amazon.com) describes a number of cases on how to make the transition to Mucuna. I can really recommend that book! It also explains everything about different brands and concentrates.
I suggest you list down everything your husband takes, along with timings and quantity so that the members here can help you. You have not mentioned which Mucuna powder or how much L-Dopa per what measurement and what quantity is being taken by your husband?
Thank you for responding. Our cocktail might be different then others. We are doing a combination of phototherapy patches for over a year now which has worked great for my husband. The nicotine patch 3.5 mg daily since June. Mucuna powder: 2tsp 6x/day presently and 4x/day before we phased him off pramiprexole. I am uncertain of L-Dopa as it doesn’t specify on the package but works super good. We are also using a generator frequency machine. All is good except that he gets agitated and increased dyskinesia. Thanks.
Dyskinesia is an individual symptom. Hubby has been using MP with the addition of carbidopa since diagnosis (6+ years) and has no dyskinesia. I believe another factor is length of PD. That is my 2 Cents.
It’s fantastic to hear that your husband has seen such significant improvements with Mucuna Pruriens! The fact that he’s regained mobility and function is a great sign that natural levodopa is working well for him.
Regarging Dyskinesia & Agitation:
While Mucuna doesn’t inherently cause dyskinesia like synthetic medications, dopamine fluctuations can still contribute to it. Here are a few things to consider:
Dose Timing & Consistency – Instead of reducing Mucuna overall, try smaller, more frequent doses to maintain steady dopamine levels. Large peaks in levodopa can trigger dyskinesia.
Balancing with Stalevo – Since Stalevo contains entacapone, which extends levodopa’s effect, the combination with Mucuna may be increasing dopamine activity beyond what’s needed. Some people adjust their Stalevo dosage when using Mucuna. (Consult a practitioner before making changes.)
Titration & Fine-Tuning – Finding the right balance between symptom control and dyskinesia is key. Some functional medicine practitioners use B6 (Pyridoxine) or Magnesium to support dopamine metabolism and reduce excessive movements.
Gut Absorption & Protein Timing – Since gut health impacts levodopa absorption, taking Mucuna away from protein meals and optimizing digestion can improve consistency in its effects.
Since you’re using Mucuna powder, ensuring it’s a standardized extract with a consistent levodopa percentage can also help. If dyskinesia persists, you might explore delayed-release options to provide a more stable dopamine supply.
A 2004 double-blind clinical study investigated the effects of Mucuna pruriens in Parkinson's disease patients. The study found that Mucuna pruriens led to a faster onset of action and longer "on" time compared to standard levodopa/carbidopa medication, without a significant increase in dyskinesias.
I highly recommend finding a Mucuna product with a certificate of authenticity to ensure consistency and go from there. I'd also recommend reading all 3 of Dr. Maldonado's books on Macuna. He's a neurologist in Spain. Dyskinesias come from over medication, too much dopamine. If taking Mucuna, one must be careful what you are taking it with - Carbidopa or another pharmaceutical that allows more of it to cross the BBB. Max in his post above shares some very pertinent information for anyone wanting to use Mucuna. I was able to stop all Rytary and most Sinemet using Mucuna, I feel so much better with no side effects, just my regular ole PD symptoms when I run a little off. Good Luck to you!
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