 |
 |
On Mon 09 Dec, Ernie Peters wrote: > Just a point to think about in determining the timing of Sinemet and food. > > I continued to do badly without the Eldepryl until I noticed, with the help > of a diary and Brian Collins' charts, that on the occasions that I had taken > a Sinemet CR and then not eaten for at least 30mins that I did not end up > with the usual "between tablets gap". > > At around the same time I changed to a top neurologist specialising in PD > and brought the subject up with him. I pointed out that even the > manufacturers of the drug (I spoke to them by phone) insist that the CR > formulation is designed to be taken WITH food. > For Ernie Peters Hello Ernie, It is good to see someone thinking through a problem and even better to see you emerging from the situation with the answer. Until you raised the subject, I had no idea that the recommendation for Sinemet CR was to take with food. I would not beat about the bush: This advice is Stupid! There is only one acceptable reason for taking Sinemet with food, and that is for the unfortunate few who suffer from nausea when taking unbuffered Sinemet. Even for them, they usually develop a tolerance which allows them to take the tablets ahead of food in the long term. When the CR tablets first became available, I was in there like a shot, and for a few years I enjoyed the freedom of movement that goes with the 4 hour cycle. Unfortunately, as my PD progressed, the rate of release of levodopa from the CR tanlets became too high for me, and I had to give it up. There was certainly no advice about taking with food in those days. The comment on '70% bioavailability' I have heard before. All I can say is that My analysis program found the level to be nearer 100% than 70%- I wonder what level of Carbidopa they ran in the tests?. You see, the theory is that since the tablet contents are spread over a 4 hour period, they are exposed to attack for that longer period, so less will get through. On the other hand, another factor is the available protection from Carbidopa, which could have a greater effect than the time element. Thanks for the plug about my charts, by the way. Regards, -- Brian Collins <[log in to unmask]>