Dear Jane,
Ideally Sinemet should be taken 30-60 minutes prior to meals. This is
because protein in foods can block Sinemet absorption. It's important
for the Sinemet to clear the stomach and enter the bloodstream ahead of
the protein.
A problem, however, for many people, is that Sinemet can cause nausea
and/or vomiting, especially on an empty stomach. This problem usually
resolves in a matter of weeks.
Some possible solutions:
1) Take the Sinemet with some ginger ale or crystallized ginger, plus a
few low-protein biscuits
2) Take the Sinemet with meals for the first few weeks, until the system
has a chance to adjust. Then begin taking Sinemet 30 minutes prior to
meals
3) If nausea is intractable, her physician may wish to prescribe Lodosyn
(carbidopa) or other medication in addition to her Sinemet to reduce
nausea.
If constipation is a problem, it will be important for her to drink
plenty of fluids and get as much fiber as possible, preferably from
whole-meal foods, vegetables, and fruits. Prunes and prune juice contain
a natural laxative; she might try a serving two or three times a week.
My very best regards to you and your mother,
Kathrynne
> My mother is 75 and was just diagnosed with early stage Parkinson's last
> week.
> At the moment, we're working our way through as many information
> services as we can. It's even the basic things like when she should take
> her meds etc as no-one explained it to her and the drug information
> sheet wasn't passed on by the pharmacy.
--
Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD
Medical nutrition therapy
http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/
"We are living in a world today where
lemonade is made from artificial flavors and
furniture polish is made from real lemons." --Alfred E. Newman
