TH,

I quit sinemet!!

Yes, I do need L-dopa due to my PD but I will say that something never quite felt right since I have been taking Sinemet. Have you ever read about the Hinz/Stein protocol? They say I need L-dopa but not carbidopa. Carbidopa depletes vitamin B6. Carbidopa is the enemy.

http://alvinsteinmd.com/parkinsons-d...onsiderations/http://alvinsteinmd.com/parkinsons-d...onsiderations/

Ever since starting Sinemet, it has been a blessing and a curse. I actually switched from Sinemet to Rytary for four days. Day 1 was bliss. Day 2,3,4 were hell. I had a lot more pain. I was getting more L-dopa but also more carbidopa. I went back to sinemet but I really started to question both meds.

That got me looking into the Hinz/Stein protocol. I started it last week and I feel so much better. I have not taken a sinemet for almost a week! I am still on the gold standard treatment (l-dopa) but no more carbidopa. I think the carbidopa was increasing my pain/stiffness due to the relative nutritional deficiency from the vitamin B6 depletion.

Like I said, it's only been 5 days but these five days are better than any day in the last 1.5 years!! I hope that it continues and will post from time to time but I have many many thanks to doctors Stein and Hinz!

I don't know if this relates to what you are dealing with but you may be in a relative nutrient deficient state due to the carbidopa.