Sunday am
Thanks to those who corrected the too low amount of carbidopa.
A dose of 75mg to 100mg seems to be what the product listing suggests.
--but it is not veryclear. Any more experts out there?

And this brings up a *Very Important* item that was missing
in my  "TEST" report  - the  following--
  I am not a doctor and do not
presume to diagnose or prescrbe by email or any other way..
I sent the story of my "TEST" to the list to add some
personal experience to the discussion. No one should change their medication
without a consultation with their medical caregivers.Every PWP has a
different reaction to  drug therapy, exercise, food  --and every other
aspect of life.
 So, please, don't change your doctors instructions on
your own.
Anne Rutherford
--------------------------------------


On Sat, 17 Aug 1996, Anne Rutherford wrote:

> To All
> My apologies for the length
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> NOTE:
> In the recent thread on the topic of large amounts of Sinemet I have seen
> some references to carbidopa.  The carbidopa is a necessary component of
> sinemet. It ensures that the levodopa gets to the brain and does not
> cause trouble in  other organs.
> About 60mg of carbidopa a day is all that is required for this task.
> However some of us take a lot of sinemet and thus a lot of carbidopa.
> Alan Bonander thought that more than 200mg of carbidopa could be toxic to
> some PWP and a daily intake of four CR 50/200 is not that unusual.
> Fortunately sinemet comes in two different ratios of carbidopa to levodopa,
> 1 to 4,  as in the CR 50/200 and the regular 25/100. The other ratio is 1
> to 10 in the10/100 mix. This makes it possible to adjust the intake of
> carbidopa as I did in the 'TEST'  which follows.
>
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>  "TEST-----Reduce Daily Carbidopa Intake  and See What Happens"
>         Anne Rutherford
> September 1995
>
> I would like to add my two cents worth to Alan Bonander's comments on
> carbidopa. From my personal experience I think an excessive amount of
> carbidopa could have negative effects. (over 200mg per day is too much)
>
> In August/September 1995, with the approval of my medical advisers, I
> tested Alan's theory in a planned reduction of my daily quantity of
> carbidopa.
>
> Why did I do this?
> I had experienced very little improvement after a recent increase in
> Sinemet. I began to have erratic switches from 'on' to 'off' and I was
> having difficulty coping with this and with the severe mood swings that
> also developed.
> While this was happening Alan Bonander commented to the list that
> carbidopa might cause trouble at doses over 200mg and my recent increase
> in Sinemet had taken me over that threshold.
>
> The Test
> Fortunately Sinemet comes in two different carbidopa/levodopa ratios; 1
> to 10 and 1 to 4. Thus it was not difficult to substitute a low ratio
> Sinemet 100/10 for the half Sinemet Controlled Release 200/50 that I had
> been taking. I kept to a preset timetable for the changes which gave time
> for each alteration to stabilize.
>
> Results
> I found that there was very little change at first but quite suddenly
> when the daily amount of Carbidopa approached 200mg I thought I felt more
> in control. I still went 'off' especially at end of dose but these could
> be dealt with.
>
> I was very suspicious, thinking that my hopes had influenced my findings
> but others confirmed that there were fewer unexpected 'offs', and I was
> more even tempered.
>
> I continue to take enough low ratio Sinemet to keep my total carbidopa
> well under 200mg and I have not experienced the general misery and 'on'
> 'off' that spoiled my summer.
>
> Some comments
> *I cannnot eliminate the possibility that the improvement was due to
> wishful thinking.
> *It is quite possible that I reacted to the increased bioavailability of
> levodopa in the tablets I substituted for the Sinemet CR. However after I
> finsihed I cut back slightly on the daily total of levodopa with no
> problems.
> *Those who think that the Sinemet CR may be the cause of the problems
> could organize another test by switching  from a half 200/50CR to the
> regular format 100/25 Sinemet.
> Anne Rutherford  <[log in to unmask]>
> Newfoundland
>