Originally Posted by SydneyD

Hi guys

I'm new to the forum but relieved to have found it! My father was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease in 2010. He started taking levopdopa/carbadopa around that time.

He is currently on levodopa/ carbodopa 100/25, 2-3 times a day. He also takes supplements prescribed to him by a 'Holistic' GP namely mucuna pruriens extract, bacopa monnieri extract (or brahmi) magnesium, fish oil and coenzyme Q10.

Two weeks ago whilst i was away on holidays his neruologist requested he have an MRI for a suspected pinched nerve in his back. My father was unable to stay still for the MRI and so it didn't work. He returned to the neurologist who told my dad to stop taking his levodopa for 48 hours before the scan and try again. He apparently also stated he had my dad on a too higher dose in any case. So my dad stopped taking his medication and became very ill, in a lot of pain as he could not stop shaking to the point that his partner ended up taking him to ED. The neurologist there told him to start taking his medication again, which he has done though he stopped taking his mucuna supplement. I arrived home yesterday and was shocked to find him seemingly frail and shaky, he says he feels as though he's 'not switched on'. He has resumed his normal dose of levodopa (2-3 tablets a day). One positive is he has stopped doing this strange hip movement and movement of his left hand which he puts down to stopping his mucuna supp. so he perhaps was on a 'too higher dose of dopamine' as the neurologist suggested.
My concern is he has gone off the supplement and still taking the same dose of medication which we all know has its own issues.
My other concern is that he wont return to his previous state following this shock and remain in his 'not feeling switched on' state.
After reading this forum i can't believe a neurologist would suggest he go cold turkey off his medication?? He has an appointment with a new neurologist in December as it's the closest time we could get.
I would appreciate anyones thoughts on the matter.
Kind regards