Switching from C/L CR to Rytary? - Cure Parkinson's

Cure Parkinson's

25,345 members26,644 posts

Switching from C/L CR to Rytary?

RS313 profile image
18 Replies

Hello Friends,

has anyone switched from C/L CR to Rytary? How hard is it to switch? Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Written by
RS313 profile image
RS313
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
18 Replies
Mogul1 profile image
Mogul1

I just switched back to C/L 50/200. I would recommend you carefully match Identical dosage to your C/L. My rytary dose was too high. Look aT my earlier posts.

RS313 profile image
RS313 in reply to Mogul1

Ty for the advice! it is so hard to know what to do.I def dont want any problems as i still work full time and cant afford to call off due to Med problems!

RS313 profile image
RS313

Or does anyone have any suggestions on what i can do that may help with this

Bailey_Texas profile image
Bailey_Texas

Just take the dose your doctor gives you. I do not think anyone here or your doctor can predict how you will respond to Rytary. It is just Carbidopa Levodopa with a extending agent of some sort in it. I took it for about 6 months and at first i had no down time no side effects. But at about 6 month every thing went wrong. At about 3 hours into a 4 hour dose i would fill a cold sweat come up my back i would feel weak my hands would get stiff and i would shut down completely. I would be down for 2 hours an this would repeat at every dose. I lasted 2 days like this and i was back on Ext release carbidopa levodopa. In my opinion Rytary is a over priced Ext release carbidopa levodopa that only gives you maybe 15 to 30 minutes of on time. I hope it works for you I am 13 years with PD or it may be 15 years just can not remember. All i know it has been a long winding road.

Ramondo profile image
Ramondo in reply to Bailey_Texas

Hi Baily, I gather from past posts , that you seem to favour levodopa meds for your PD, I have only ever taken Sinemet 50/100 X 4 daily, but after five years my energy level, gait and balance are deteriorating, do you think my dose is too low.

Enidah profile image
Enidah in reply to Ramondo

Ramondo, that is a pretty low dose. It probably wouldn’t hurt to add in a fifth pill and take them a little closer together. I am in to almost 6 years diagnosed eight years with symptoms and am taking usually 6-

25/100 C/L a day.

Ramondo profile image
Ramondo in reply to Enidah

Thank you for that Enida, my neurologist has suggested upping the dosage but I have been reluctant to take more. I will do so as I seem to be deteriorating.

in reply to Bailey_Texas

I am experiencing similar results one week into the medication.

Juliegrace profile image
Juliegrace

I think it's a bit of a crap shoot. It didn't work for me, but there are several people here who think it is great. I would recommend that you try it when you have some time off. I found it very unpredictable and went right back to c/l IR.

Intrepid200 profile image
Intrepid200

I switched just over 6 weeks ago and I didn't experience any drastic changes until recently I have nothing an increase heart rate I am heart disease free

Just after taking the 3 capsules I jabril a rush of extra saliva in my mouth which stabilizes within minutes

Please read the inset prescription documents

I'm taking 3 capsules 3 times per day 35x

I followed my neurologist’s advice and switched seamlessly from Sinemet 4 times daily to Rytary 3 times daily, with no ill effects. Rytary works much better for me. Everyone is different.

jcavana profile image
jcavana in reply to

My mom is in her first week of rytary from sinemet. She took 4 sinemet pills a day. Her rytary dose is 95. The doctor had her gradually increasing this over 10 days to see what works for her. She is now up to 3 pills at 4 times per day but says when she wakes up around 4:30 she feels awful and has difficulty moving. This did not happen on sinemet. Her last dose of sinemet was at 5 each day and her first dose was at 4:30-5:00. Her energy level is low in afternoon so doctor switched to rytary. How long did it take you to find correct dose?

in reply to jcavana

I take 3 pills upon waking in the morning, another 3 pills around noon and a final 3 pills around 6 pm. I feel great most of the time. Balance, tremor and handwriting much improved. I do think 4 times a day is a lot, but as everyone says, everyone is different. Good luck to you and your mom.

jcavana profile image
jcavana in reply to

Thanks - what’s your dosing? She currently has lowest dose - 95.

PDGal4 profile image
PDGal4

I have been on Rytary since June 2017. Sinemet was only lasting about 2 to 2-1/2 hours before wearing off. Rytary is supposed to last 5 hours; for me, I get 4 to 4-1/2 hours. I do supplement with 1/2 Sinemet between doses 3 x a day.

Rytary takes 1 week for the body to adjust; 4 weeks to work, according to my Neuro, and several months for the body to fully adjust. He constantly stresses consistency with meds.

Yes, I did have an adjustment period. The first time it was prescribed was from a different neuro who prescribed way too high a dose. The one I see now started me on 2 x 95 mg taken 4 x a day. I went up to 3 x 95 mg and for a while took 2 x 145 mg. I did find, especially in the morning with exercise, I needed the extra 1/2 Sinemet. I have noticed more dyskinesia and slowly cut my dosage down, beginning with (1 x 95 mg + 1 X 145 mg) 4 x a day. I've settled in at 2 x 95 mg taken at 7.30 am, 12.00, 4.30 pm, and 9.30 pm, with 1/2 Sinemet around 9.00 am, 2.30 pm, and 6.30 pm. On a good day, I skip the 2.30 pm mid-dosing.

Overall I am pleased with it. Same med problems as with Sinemet--sometimes meds make me feel a little buzzed, sometimes they don't seem to kick in much at all, and sometimes they work perfectly. I did lose about 10 pounds over six months last year, but the weight loss has stabilized.

It is expensive but you can download a form on their website for assistance from manufacturer. My neuro filled it out and sent it in for me. I think max co-pay is $20 or $25 per month with it. Keep us posted on what you decide and your experience if you go for it.

RS313 profile image
RS313 in reply to PDGal4

Thanks everyone for the great advice and for sharing your experiences♥

jcavana profile image
jcavana in reply to PDGal4

My mom is in her first week of rytary from sinemet. She took 4 sinemet pills a day. Her rytary dose is 95. The doctor had her gradually increasing this over 10 days to see what works for her. She is now up to 3 pills at 4 times per day but says when she wakes up around 4:30 she feels awful and has difficulty moving. This did not happen on sinemet. Her last dose of sinemet was at 5 each day and her first dose was at 4:30-5:00. Her energy level is low in afternoon so doctor switched to rytary. How long did it take you to find correct dose?

PDGal4 profile image
PDGal4

A few weeks to months. Too much C/L can have same effect as too little. I do think I stayed at a dose for several weeks before changing. My neuro is a big believer in the body needing weeks to adjust. I’d check with her doctor to see if her dosage is too high.

You may also like...

Experiences of return from Rytary to generic CR or IR

hear experiences of switching back from Rytary to regular CR or IR? Why did you switch back?

Rytary switching, tips from your success?

hear from those who have successfully switched to Rytary, what to expect from the transition? Any...

C/L induced Dsytonia - extreme pain.

we break it to the neuro. Looking forward for advice from here. Thanks.

C/l dosage

2tsps per day in applesauce..Any and all suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

Rytary

and we are thinking about switching. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.