I wanted to see what would happen if I went unmediated for an extended period of time. I wanted to know what symptoms of mine were meds related and what were pd. I also wanted to know if I was addicted to mucuna/sinemet. And what would happen to me if I was.
Currently, this is my schedule. At 8:30 am, 11:30 am and at 2:30 pm I will take the following: 1 tsp of mucuna (Zandopa) with 1/3 tablet of generic Sinemet 200/50 CR 3 times a day (8:30 am, 11:30 am and at 2:30 pm). I don’t take any antidepressants or any other pd medications. Only if I plan to go out in the evening, will I take another dose. For the past couple of months now, I've been extending my unmediated time from just overnight to now around 15 hours, without any side effects. I do this mainly to encourage my body to use its own dopamine and not be so dependent on mucuna/sinemet most of the day.
Here are my current symptoms. When my meds kick in, usually in about 20 minutes, I start to get a bit antsy. Kind of like a 5 year old kid having to go to the bathroom. I get a bit restless, just enough movement to get attention if I was out in public. This lasts only about 15 minutes or so. Then I settle down and can be pretty normal, unless I’m stressed. Then I get some hand shaking and my voice gets fragmented. But over all, I would say that I’m pretty normal when medicated. I can walk, jog, ride a bike, lots of energy, enjoying the day, can drive, work around the house, cook, clean, etc. etc. This will last about 2 1/2 to 3 hours, sometimes longer ‘till my next dose. When I begin to crash, it happens fairly quickly. I begin to sweat, I start limping and within 10 minutes, I will have difficulty walking. My walking is worse, at this time, than when I’ve been unmediated for a couple of hours, weird. I would have to call this a withdrawal symptom along with the sweating. In the evening, when I’m unmediated, the sweating is gone and my walking is back, but I walk a lot slower and have to be aware of every step. I will have, at times, a tremor in my left hand. I won’t attempt to do anything major when I’m unmediated, besides reading a book, get on the internet or watch some TV. Before I go to bed, I’ll meditate and do some stretching. My back muscles usually ache in the evening. I would say that’s a pd symptom.
When I wake up in the morning, already 14 hours unmediated, I can still go for a short walk. It's a lot slower than normal, in fact my whole body is slow but I can function. My body doesn’t go through any withdrawal symptoms in the evening, during the night or when I wake up.
This is where my real test begins. I won’t take any meds now until tomorrow.
After 30 hours unmediated, I'm still pretty much the same, the same as in the evenings when I'm unmediated. Except I have a bit slower movements, more lack of energy, really tired and my back muscles ache more but that's about it. My back muscles feels like I've been holding my arms out in front of me and never letting them down. If fact my whole body is getting stiffer and ache more. This is definitely a pd symptom. I never get this when I'm on my mucuna/sinemet. I didn't suffer from any withdrawal symptoms, besides the usual 15 minute sweating after the last dose wore off around 27 hours ago.
The strangest thing that has happened to me at the 24 and 27 hour mark was this: I took two short naps and both times I woke up completely normal. No body aches, walked completely fine, handwriting fine. I could even jump one foot at a time on my rebounder. I was never able to do that before unmediated. I couldn't believe it, no symptoms at all, normal arm swing, normal speech, etc. The unfortunate thing was, it only lasted for 15 minutes, both times, weird. But after this moment of normalcy wore off, I was still able to function around the house, slow, but able. I did some laundry, went for a 1/2 hour walk, changed the kitty box and even made myself a nice supper.
So I decided to continue unmediated the following day too, and see what happens. That night I slept so-so. Had a harder time turning over in bed. And when I woke up in the morning, I was really stiff, I felt like I’ve played football the day before. I could barely walk. It was baby steps, 3” at a time. I wouldn’t be able to go for a walk. I didn’t suffer any withdrawal symptoms. So for me, at this time, I would have to say mucuna wasn’t addictive. I’ve been taking mostly mucuna for 2 years now.
I decided to risk it any longer and end my testing, so I lasted 43 hours unmediated without and serious side effects or withdrawal symptoms. The one thing I loved during this period was how calm my mind was, total internal peace. Not like when I’m medicated, my mind seems to be racing and needs to be busy (definitely the drugs playing a factor here).
The last time I was unmediated, was 2 1/2 years ago. And back then, I was ready for a wheelchair. Could barely walk at all, couldn’t stand without support, couldn’t take care of myself, extremely depressed, didn’t care to live anymore. That was after 5 years of fighting PD unmediated. Eventually I had no choice but to get on Sinemet, but that lasted only 6 months (taking 5 tablets 200/50 a day) before it stopped working for me. Fortunately I found out about mucuna and that has helped turned my life around. I’m no longer fighting pd, I’m helping my body to recover instead. I truly believe our bodies can heal themselves, but they won’t be able to if we keep it medicated. I’m not sure how much I have recovered so far, I’m not ready to go unmediated for a couple of months to find out. But here are some of my old symptoms that aren’t around any more (when I’m medicated or unmediated): I fully have my balance back, full arm swing (my left arm wouldn’t swing before), no longer depressed, no more leg or stomach cramps, no longer constipated, expressions are back in my face, no longer get panic attacks. It a slow process, I’ve had pd for almost 8 years now. I made lots of changes in my life, it not just taking mucuna that will do it. I had to change how I lived and think.

Enjoy Life.
Max