According to Marty Hinz (pharmacologist?) it is the Carbadopa that is the dangerous drug....drug-induced nutrient deficiency....rising death rate among PD sufferers last 35 years or so.

You are exactly right. More people and doctors need to know this.

The Parkinson’s disease death rate: carbidopa and vitamin B6
Abstract: The only indication for carbidopa and benserazide is the management of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa)-induced nausea. Both drugs irreversibly bind to and permanently deactivate pyridoxal 5-phosphate (PLP), the active form of vitamin B6, and PLP- dependent enzymes. PLP is required for the function of over 300 enzymes and proteins. Virtually every major system in the body is impacted directly or indirectly by PLP. The administration of carbidopa and benserazide potentially induces a nutritional catastrophe. During the first 15 years of prescribing L-dopa,a decreasing Parkinson’s disease death rate was observed. Then, in 1976, 1 year after US Food and Drug Administration approved the original L-dopa/carbidopa combina- tion drug, the Parkinson’s disease death rate started increasing. This trend has continued to the present, for 38 years and counting. The previous literature documents this increasing death rate, but no hypothesis has been offered concerning this trend. Carbidopa is postulated to contribute to the increasing Parkinson’s disease death rate and to the classification of Parkinson’s as a progressive neurodegenerative disease. It may contribute to L-dopa tachyphylaxis.

Born in 1955 I had symptoms in 1991, diagnosed Parkinsons in 2001 (very manageable), Doc started me immediately on C/L until recently.

Regrets? That I started C/L immediately when it wasn't necessary and only minor benefits. It's the primary reason I am waiting to decide on DBS.

Condition? I drive, I ride motorcycle with my son in desert (I fell three weeks ago-ouch!), my offs are major inconvenience but not debilitating.

Tried to stop C/L cold turkey a few years ago-that was fun.

Started Rytary July 1/Stopped Rytary October 15/Restarted Rytary October 28.