[olsen]

Neurology. 2006 Jun 27;66(12):1824-9. Links

Helicobacter pylori eradication and l-dopa absorption in patients with PD and motor fluctuations.Pierantozzi M, Pietroiusti A, Brusa L, Galati S, Stefani A, Lunardi G, Fedele E, Sancesario G, Bernardi G, Bergamaschi A, Magrini A, Stanzione P, Galante A.
IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Department of Neuroscience, Tor Vergata University, and S. Raffaele Hospital, Rome, Italy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if Helicobacter pylori (HP) eradication could make an effective and long-lasting improvement in the pharmacokinetic and clinical response to l-dopa in patients with Parkinson disease (PD) and motor fluctuations. METHODS: In a group of 34 HP-infected, motor-fluctuating patients with PD, the short-term (1-week) and long-term (3-month) beneficial effect of HP eradication (n = 17) was investigated in a double-blind fashion in comparison with a generic antioxidant treatment (n = 17), by means of pharmacokinetic, clinical, and gastrointestinal assessments. Results were compared with placebo treatment. RESULTS: Differently from the antioxidant-treated patients, the HP-eradicated patients showed a significant increase of l-dopa absorption, which was coupled with a significant improvement of clinical disability and with a prolonged "on-time" duration, whereas gastritis/duodenitis scores significantly decreased in line with a better l-dopa pharmacokinetics. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate a reversible Helicobacter pylori (HP)-induced interference with l-dopa clinical response related to the impaired drug absorption, probably due to active gastroduodenitis. Therefore, the authors suggest that HP eradication may improve the clinical status of infected patients with Parkinson disease and motor fluctuations by modifying l-dopa pharmacokinetics.

PMID: 16801644 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[reverett123]

Having been through this, I have to warn you that if not done properly this can get you in serious trouble. I darn near killed myself learning that.

The problem lies in the fact that H pylori is a gram negative bacteria and, like all such, leaves a tiny drop of the toxin LPS behind. LPS is very nasty stuff and PWP are very vulnerable to it. I would swear it was a neurotoxin.

If you nuke a colony of several hundred million you suddenly have a pool of some deadly stuff in your stomach. If your GI tract is sluggish you are going to absorb much of the toxin before you pass it out.

So, advice number one is be at the top of your form. Laxatives, enemas, the works.

Second, antibiotics may not be the answer. They often fail and wreck your good bugs too. And they stress you big time.

Best alternative I found is a rhubarb root extract.

[made it up]

Helicobacter pylori aka a stomach ulcer is cured by going to a Dr and having a breath test, yes breath test.
The treatment is a short course of medication ....sorry girls and boys, can't remember the name but any G.P. would know. Simple and effective.
Regards,
Lee

[reverett123]

Sorry, but the breath test is for diagnosis. It also is not available everywhere.

And because the bacteria mutates so quickly the treatment is an everchanging cocktail that is successful, at most, about three times out of four.

And when it fails, you end up with one tough and dangerous bug. When attacked some strains reportedly increase their toxin levels by as much as a factor of 200!

There are reasons to deal with the HP though. Aside from ulcers and cancer and the problems noted in the first post, there is a very real danger that should you need antibiotics for something else, say pneumonia, and had HP, you could end up in terrible shape permanently.

[made it up]

Sorry Reverett didn't make myself too clear.
Yes the breath test is a diagnostic test but as far as I know it's widely available and most Drs do this test when it's suspected.
My hubby had it (helicobacter pylori) and it was diagnosed with this test and subsequently cured after a short course of the appropriate medication.
It's been around a few years now (the test) and also the appropriate medication to treat it.

[reverett123]

on where you are I guess. My local hospital didn't offer it but the university one a half-hour away did.

As for the drug question-guess wrong and you end up in a wheel chair. Go to Medline and search for hp and Dobbs. Note this only applies to pwp.

[JACKMANA]

I suspect that 'made it up' may be from UK as the test & subsequent treatments (if necessary) are quickly available at no cost from the National Health Service (NHS).
Reverette: Thanks for the warnings.