Mannitol

[cshamb]

I thinking of trying Mannitol. Any idea what dosage to start?

[alexask]

Depends on your weight. Apparently if you go on the clinicrowd website it will tell you though I found that website the most user-unfriendly ever, so never actually got a recommendation. I am 70 kg and have a mildly heaped teaspoon, in coffee with some coconut oil at breakfast time. I find my symptoms improve with a ketogenic approach, at least for breakfast . Make sure you are well hydrated as it sucks water out of the rest of your system. IMO you should be aiming for regularity rather than explosiveness when it comes to bowel movements.

[cshamb in reply to alexask]

Thanks for your help.

[Nivrac77]

I’ve been taking it for just over a year and worked my way up from 1/2 tablespoon to a heaping table spoon daily mixed in my coffee. I started with 1/2 tblsp. mixed in coffee for about 2 weeks then moved to a level tablespoon for another week, then up to my heaping tablespoon daily. Other than frequent gas and occasional bowel pressure it causes, I’ve had no other adverse issues. I did sense improved smell at first, but my overall progression of the PD has changed very little (definitely not worsening) since I started it.

[answerseeker]

At times the clinicrowd.org website is slow, but have patience, look at the videos and take the initial survey. This way to have a better understanding of why Mannitol may be helpful and can participate in contributing to knowledge about how well it works for people with PD and most importantly get the proper dose for your body weight. My husband started Mannitol a little less than a year ago and has seen dramatic improvement in his symptoms in the last year. (There have been other changes which undoubtedly contributed as well, but he continues to get better and better and has been on Mannitol the longest.

[NRyan in reply to answerseeker]

What other changes?

[Astra7]

I built up from half a tsp to heaped tsp to avoid the laxative effect which certainly doesn't seem to be a problem. I think I feel a bit better. Plan to double that over next few weeks.

Can't handle the clinicrowd website so am just working on trial and error.

[jeanette2372]

My husband has been taking Mannitol for a few weeks now. He started taking 1/2 teaspoon each morning for the first week, then 1/2 teaspoon each morning and night for the next week (total daily dose 1 teaspoon). He plans to increase the total daily dose to 2 teaspoons in the morning, and 2 teaspoons at night - every week increasing the daily dose by 1/2 teaspoon till he gets to his planned dosage. In the morning he sprinkles it on his breakfast cereal, and at night he sprinkles it on his dessert. He hasn't had any bad side effects so far, but he does feel better and seems to have better posture and be walking better than before he started. He is on a high coconut oil, low carb diet also. He has also started drinking milk kefir (a probiotic drink that I make daily) which may also be helping.

I think it's helpful to others to register and provide feedback on Clinicrowd.

[cshamb in reply to jeanette2372]

Does your husband take other meds. along with the Mannitol?

[jeanette2372 in reply to cshamb]

He takes 150mg Levidopa/Carbidopa three times daily, so total of 450mg per day. He also takes 1mg Azilect (rasagaline) daily.

[Rosabellazita in reply to jeanette2372]

Do u think its ok to take mannitol if your taking mirapex

[jeanette2372 in reply to Rosabellazita]

I don't actually know what mirapex is. Sorry, I have no experience or knowledge to answer your question.