Replacing Rytary with Mucuna

[robclem]

I’m looking for anyone that has successfully replaced all or part of their Rytary or C/L dose with Mucuna. I am currently taking 3 x 195mg Rytary 5x per day at 6am 10am 2pm 6pm and 2am. I have been experiencing a lot more Off times, often between 8am and 11am and then 3pm-5pm.

About 2 weeks ago I started to add 800mg of Mucuna(40% L-dopa) to my 6am dose and then 400mg Mucuna to each other day time dose of Rytary with noticeable improvement in my off times and energy levels. I’m basically not having any off times and not needing an afternoon nap.

Today I am experimenting replacing 1 of each 3 Rytary pils with 800mg of Mucuna and so far I feel great!

My theory is that if I only take 2x195mg Rytary every 4hrs but add 800mg Mucuna(40%L-dopa) that I’m replacing 195mg Rytary with 320mg L-dopa with the net effect of increasing my l-dopa by 320-195=125mg which is helping reduce my off times.

Sorry for the long post but I’m just trying to see if my dosing theory is correct and if anyone else has tried this or similar?

Thanks

[park_bear]

Never a need to apologize for length of post. Very important to make sure that readers have enough detail to fully understand your situation.

As to the merits of what you are doing, as long as it is working for you that is proof. Perhaps others will have a more detailed response.

[eschneid]

You know your body and the dosing better than us. I was going to ask you if immediate release c/I works for you, but if the macuna works, that's a good enough response, I suggest you possibly try a smaller amount of mucuna, as we all want to get away with as little carbidopa or levadopa as possible. If you find you can do less than 800 mg of mucuna., great. If not, stay with it and trust yourself, your body and the way you feel & not the doctors. Although, keep your doctor in the loop when you see him, let him know how much better you feel. While early in and good, experiment with a few different sources of mucuna while you can, not when you are forced to in case your fav disappoints..

[Vynnla]

I supplement Rytary with Mucuna as well. Because Mucuna acts quickly but then wears off, I take it about an hour before the Rytary dose. It’s allowed me to get by with less Rytary and has fewer side effects.

[robclem in reply to Vynnla]

thanks, which brand of Mucuna do you use and how much Rytary do you take?

[rebtar]

Which brand mucuna?

[robclem in reply to rebtar]

I use the Nutricost brand sold on Amazon, it is a 2 pill dose that delivers 800mg

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[Vynnla]

It’s NatureBell Mucuna with Ashwaganda. One capsule is 500mg (150mg l-dopa). The Rytary is 36.25-145mg.

[Hidden]

Hi robclem. Max Tomlinson functional medicine practitioner.

Your approach makes a lot of sense, and it’s great to hear that Mucuna Pruriens is helping reduce your off times and improve energy levels! Your dosing adjustments seem to be effectively smoothing out fluctuations that can occur with Rytary alone.

One potential advantage is to use a HPLC standardized and sustained-release formulation, which could help maintain steadier dopamine levels throughout the day. Given that you're finding success with adding 40% L-dopa Mucuna to each Rytary dose, switching to a more controlled-release Mucuna formulation might provide additional stability and reduce the need for such frequent dosing adjustments.

Additionally, because a HPLC standardised prodcut is designed to mimic the natural dopamine cycle, it could help extend your on-time without requiring as frequent a recalibration of your dosing strategy. Since individual response varies, tracking how long each dose lasts and how it interacts with Rytary will be key.

I am a naturopathic functional medicine practitioner and welcome questions - especially those I can learn from.

Would love to hear how your experiment continues—you're onto something very interesting!

[robclem in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Max, I appreciate your response. Do you have a recommended brand of Mucuna that might work better for me?

[Hidden in reply to robclem]

Hi. Really happy to help. I don't want to break community rules by recommending my product here if that is OK.

Happy for you to email me though: [e-mail]

We are in Dr Maldonado's latest book - Mucuna Vademecum on page 84

[Sydney75]

I have read that mucuna will not pass the blood brain barrier without green tea. Also, that it can cause nausea without a "carbidopa" component. So does this inexpensive mucuna (l-dopa) actually cross the BBB? There are versions of mucuna l-dopa that have green tea in the ingrediants as wells as B6 p-5-p. My HWP with PD is really struggling and he takes Rytary. He is experiencing more symptoms and the Rytary does not last much more than 4 hrs. Looking for alternatives to boost other in Inbrija (inhaler levodopa) works but extraordinary $$$. Many of the mucuna bulk powders are not standardized. He has a complex medical history because of failed back surgery and pain, RLS and now poorly controled BP. Thinking about getting of Horizant for RLS because of side effects, may switch back to gabapentin.

[robclem in reply to Sydney75]

I take the mucuna with my Rytary so the carbidopa in the Rytary seems to help the Mucuna to cross the bbb

[BeedieBird]

I tapered myself off Rytary (145 mg 4x a day plus 95 mg as needed + Sinemet as needed) and back to Sinemet c/l 25/100. I had severe side effects with Rytary that sent me to ER 3 different times. Each time I was told my PD was worsening. BS, Jerking, Erratic Dyskinesias are not associated with Parkinsons, but medication Overdose.

After tapering off Rytary and adding back the ole skool Sinemet, I ended up with 25mg of c/l in the morning (100 mg c/l cut in quarters) + 50mg every 3 hours. I then read Dr. Maldonado's books on Mucuna (he's a neurologist in Spain, big fan of Mucuna) and I bought Mucuna created by a naturopath in the UK who's sister was diagnosed with PD. His brand is transparent and has a certificate of authenticity I could download. macudopausa.com/.

I've been experimenting about a week thus far with 1/4 of the 25/100 mg Sinemet (for the Carbidopa) and 1 capsule of the mucuna bean capsule from MacuDopa 750 mg/75mg L-dopa. I am using the small amount of Carbidopa in the 1/4 Sinemet to help the Mucuna cross the BBB and increase itst's effectiveness. For now, that seems to be working great. Dr. Maldonado has great recommendations on dosages and how to take Mucuna in his books, as well as the Naturopath on macudopausa.com, Max, who offers 1 free 15 minute consultation to answer questions. Hope this helps.

Here's to Better Living with Less Levodopa 👊

Margie

[BeedieBird]

I also find caffeine enhances the effects of L-Dopa and one of the reasons I do well in the morning with 2 cups of black tea and only 25mg of Levodopa. Effects for me last 3-4 hours. I'm fairly newly diagnosed btw - 3 years in.

Caffeine administered before levodopa may improve its pharmacokinetics in some parkinsonian patients

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/169...