Any one still takes this stuff or zadopa? In the old forum, some who took this stuff reported great experience after taking this stuff and curious to know if it can be a complete replacement of sinemet. Does it bring long term benefits (say neuron protective effect) or it bring the same evil (say dyskinesa) as sinemet? appreciate your sharing.

LING

Ron Hutton and I both tried it in various forms a couple of years ago. My own experience was positive and I plan to get back to it. In fact, just yesterday I bought one of those little trays for filling capsules with mucuna in mind...

I tried it as raw powder, a standardized form called "Dopabean" by Solaray, and a strong concentrate by Herbalife. They all worked much like Sinemet. You had to do a little trial and error to get the dosage right, however.

I will probably reintroduce it in a few weeks. The reason I quit the powder was that it is an incredible staining agent. Black as can be and it does not come off. That's why I got the capsules. I can fill them outdoors.

Mucuna is a far more complex substance than levadopa. One thing that particularly interests me is that I was using dosages roughly equivalent to the Sinemet and getting similar results. But mucuna has no carbidopa to shield it from your body's enzymes. According to conventional wisdom, almost none should get to the brain. Yet it does.

Rick, where did you get this, please? I want to take my Zandopa and hate drinking it.

Rick, researchers surmise that mucuna contains a chemical that works like carbidopa. It's more effective that the same amount of L-Dopa via Sinemet.

This looks like a good deal:

http://www.athletes.com/store/now/cap.html

http://www.athletes.com/store/now/singlecaps.html

I got mine at a local health food store for twelve bucks. Haven't tried it yet but looks very simple. Brand is "Cap M Quick"

Have you tried the Zandopa yet?

Dear reverett123 & ZucchiniFlower,

Thanks for sharing! I have bought a couple bottles of Zandopa from India but is puzzled how to formulate the right dosage which can equate it with my current regime of sinemet. Any bright idea?

Besides, is there adverse effect/ side effect from taking Zandopa? say accelerating the deterioration of the disease...

LING

... good study done on extracts from mucuna species. It's a bit long, but for the chemically inclined good reading. Basically ,it refutes the presence of a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor found in raw or boiled beans, so it cautions to go easy. Some samples contained little L-Dopa, others, up to 10%. Interestingly, in the raw bean (where the dopa content is greatest; cooking destroys it), tryptamine alkaloids were found in trace amounts (5-methoxy-NN, Dimethyltryptamine, also 5-hydroxy-tryptamine. These trippy halucinogens are not present in enough quantity to be biologically significant. It also states that if you have good stuff, it takes awhile to get used to the large amounts of L-Dopa that you will be taking without an inhibitor. So mucuna pruriens is stated to be of use for PWP in countries that are developing and sinemet is not usually available, but if I were to give my final analysis, I'd say stick to Sinemet (or Madopar).cs
http://www.cidicco.hn/newcidiccoengl...d%20Tebbet.pdf

we have 2 acquaintances with PD who take both sinemet and mucuna (zandopa). their reasoning is to keep the dosage of sinemet as low as possible. since sinemet contains carbidopa, they do not worry about the peripheral effects of mucuna. carbidopa can be prescribed as a stand alone drug.

Rick, what size capsules did you get?

I tried Zandopa only once, a very small amount. I hated drinking it.

I found this in an old file:

Subject: Zandopa - Mucuna Beans Extract

Body: Hi Guys,
I have started using Zandopa, the Mucuna beans powder and I am getting
fantastic results. Zandopa has not been approved by the FDA in the US, but
has been approved in Canada & Europe.
The following are the benefits over Sinemet:
- The kick off time is extremely fast. Earlier with Syndopa (The Sinemet
generic) I used to take a minimum of 45 minutes and post prandial almost 1
hour. With Zandopa the kick off time is between 20 - 25 minutes and post
prandial around 35 - 40 mnts. It breaks the blood barrier faster, since
it's in a powder form and is taken mixed with water
- My dyskinesia has reduced a lot.
- The sick feeling I used to get after taking Syndopa 25/100 has
disappeared. Earlier, after taking Syndopa, I would 'freeze' for atleast
20 minutes, this does not happen now. Being a natural product, the
'chemical' afterfeel is not there.
- I was put on tablet of Syndopa 25/100, 5 times a day, I have replaced 3
of the doses with Zandopa.
- The recommended replacement dose is 2x7.5 gms for 1 syndopa 25/100. But
I find that 15 gms is too much and take just 7.5gms for one tablet.
-The only draw back is that being in powder form, taking it while I am at
work is inconvenient.
~Gautam

I had a choice of 0, 00, and 000. Having nothing to go on, I chose the 00 figuring I would adjust.

I was diagnosed about 16 months ago at age of 63. My main symptom is tremor and weak right hand. From day 1, the neurologist wanted to put me on sinemet but I refused. For the last year, I have been taking Mucuna powder. Started with one tea spoon then increased to 2 tea spoons daily. I take other supplements as well.
So far, so good and I still think I can do without chemical drugs.
Ofcourse I know I am in the begining but I am questioning the doctor's wisdom for early perscription of sinemet.
I honestly don't know if the mucuna is helping my Parkinson but I can assure you it has other health benifits
any body still taking the stuff??