David

<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]

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]

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]

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]

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]