[Lulu]

RE L-dopa HAVING NO EFFECT:

Could be a couple of reasons to check out:

1. Have you got Parkinson’s disease or another “Parkinsonism… because only Parkinson’s disease will respond dynamically to L-dopa therapy. Need to have a review with your neurologist to discuss about doing another assessment of your drug response and helpful too is a DAT scan to confirm diagnosis.

2. There are interactions with L-dopa and competition for its absorption (into the bloodstream and then into the brain) with the large neutral amino acids in dense protein food.

Therefore “precision monitoring” of the time of taking the L-dopa away from specific food groups, the amount of time it takes to have effect and the time it takes to wear off – is essential to judge if it is indeed having the desired effect or whether your personal doses and time of taking the L-dopa are correct for you personally.

Equally, good bowel function is essential so that the receptor sites in the intestine for L-dopa are not compromised.

I have published books on this subject of precision monitoring by patients to present to their neurologists. Only by monitoring responses at different doses as well as timing of doses, with the appropriate diet, can one know if the L-dopa formula is indeed appropriate or needs the neurologist’s review.

[Lulu]

Mucuna Pruriens: it is important for all dopminergic support to be monitored by your neurologist and registered healthcare provider – do not self medicate as some discussions in the Forums about mucuna pruriens seem to be indicating. Mucuna pruriens does indeed contain L-dopa but depending on the production technique, time of harvesting of the plant and the pharmaceutical STANDARDISATION of dosages, just using any random product advertised as mucuna pruriens, is not advisable. Standardised dosage is essential from a reputable company.

There is indeed medical research on the excellent efficacy of L-dopa supplements based on mucuna pruriens, including that done at The Hospital for Nervous Diseases in London UK by Prof Andrew Lees. In one of the books that I have published with Dr Geoffrey Leader and Professor of Neurology Leslie Findley – Parkinson’s Disease Reducing Symptoms with Nutrition and Drugs (Denor Press) – there is a chapter with various positive medical references about mucuna pruriens, from peer reviewed literature.

Also L-dopa Response monitoring schemes are presented, including all the dopaminergic, drugs to enable people using L-dopa to report accurately to their doctors so that ther individual dosages and time of taking L-dopa can be more precise for best and safe practice – helpful therefore in attempting to support the “off-period.”

Just as with different chemical pharmaceutical drugs containing L-dopa, dosage needs to be appropriate to each person and over – dose is just as vital to monitor – for safety.

Mucuna may or may not be suitable for everyone and professional monitoring for the individual is important.

It is advisable to not self medicate. Mucuna pruriens does indeed contain L-dopa but depending on the production technique, time of harvesting of the plant and the pharmaceutical STANDARDISATION of dosages, just using any random product advertised as mucuna pruriens, is not advisable. Standardised dosage is essential from a reputable company.