@dlkeller
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David replied to the topic Has anyone tried Mucuna Pruriens (Dopa Mucuna) as a C/L replacement? in the forum Parkinson's Disease alternative treatments 2 weeks, 4 days ago
<h2>Mucuna Pruriens (Dopa Mucuna) is not a replacement for carbidopa/levodopa, it only replaces levodopa, and with very poor precision. Carbidopa is very important for preventing peripheral breakdown of levodopa, before it ever gets to the brain. Inbrija inhaled levodopa has the same problem. Without carbidopa, you get all the nausea and less o…[Read more]
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David replied to the topic Ongentys Approved in Japan to Help Treat Parkinson's ‘Off’ Periods in the forum Parkinson’s Research News 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Answer to my own question above: Ongentys (opicapone) is significantly better than Comtan (entacapone) for reducing motor fluctuations, as found in a number of clinical trials that tested the two medications directly against each other, head-to-head. They both work the same way, by inhibiting an enzyme called “COMT” (acronym for…[Read more]
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David replied to the topic Has anyone tried Nourianz? in the forum Parkinson's Disease Medications 3 months, 3 weeks ago
I was prescribed Nourianz (istradefylline) 20 mg a few months ago. I use it sparingly, only about one or two days per week, as needed for severe “off” episodes that do not respond to the highest doses of levodopa I can take without causing dyskinesia. I do not use Nourianz every day, as prescribed, because:
1) Nourianz seems to exacerbate my…[Read more] -
David posted an update 5 months, 1 week ago
When using mannitol for medical purposes, it is given intravenously. When consumed orally, as a dietary sweetener or laxative, mannitol is poorly absorbed by the gut. Oral mannitol is being tested for benefits in Parkinson disease on ClinicalTrials.gov. It seems unlikely for oral mannitol to reach high enough blood levels to reach the brain.…[Read more]
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David replied to the topic Ongentys Approved in Japan to Help Treat Parkinson's ‘Off’ Periods in the forum Parkinson’s Research News 6 months ago
Ongentys (opicapone) was recently approved by the FDA as an oral,add-on daily treatment for Parkinson’s patients experiencing off periods while on levodopa. Ongentys increases the amount of levodopa reaching the brain by blocking an enzyme called catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT),that breaks down levodopa in the blood. Ongentys was found to be…[Read more]
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David posted an update 10 months, 1 week ago
My comment concerns the article titled “Different Patient, Different Treatment: Precision Medicine Advances for Parkinson’s Disease”, which states:
“Sorting patients based upon differences in cellular function (“mechanistic disease stratification” in the words of the authors) may allow treatments to be better targeted to each patient’s unique…[Read more]
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David replied to the topic Wondering About Azilect? in the forum Using our forums 11 months ago
I have taken rasagiline (Azilect or its generic form) for over a decade, without any problems. The price dropped when it went generic, and should drop further when manufacturers other than Teva (the original patent-holder) become available. I do not notice any strong effect from stopping or resuming rasagiline, but I stick with it because the c…[Read more]
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David became a registered member 11 months, 1 week ago