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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 >