Parkinson's Disease Support Group

Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder often characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement, and in extreme cases, a loss of physical movement. The primary symptoms of Parkinsons are due to excessive muscle contraction, normally caused by the insufficient formation and action of dopamine, which is produced in the dopaminergic neurons of the...

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hasty495 12/07/2012

Just wondering when others take Sinemet. My prescription calls for it to be taken with meals but I have read it should be taken on an empty stomach for best results. I have been taking it about 30 min to an hour before eating. It makes me a quite nauseous and sleepy so I tried to take it with food and I do not have the side effects as much. But I can take the side effects if it means I get more benefit from the timing.

I would appreciate hearing when others in this group take it. at you What do. Thanks

hasty495 12/07/2012

Disregard the last sentence in previous post. Should have deleted it before submitting. Oh well, more brain fog I guess, lol.
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debfromnj 12/10/2012

I take sinemet either 1 hour before meals or 2 hours after I eat. I think your body should get used to it after a while and the nausea will go away in a couple of weeks. good luck

PSullivan 12/10/2012

I take it before I eat. In the morning especially if i take it on an empty stomach i'm nauseous. I know a lot of other people that don't have that problem and take it before they eat so i think you just have to see what works best for you!!! Good Luck!!!

Lynnie200 12/10/2012

My spouse takes it at 7 a.m. 11 a.m, 3 pm and 8 p.m on an empty stomach so it was 1 hour before breakfast and lunch. If you eat something make sure it has no protein or very little as the protein works against the effect. A soda cracker would be a good thing to have.
Also I hope you gradually worked up to your full dose when you first started the medication and if you increase it in the future, it has to be gradual too.

deleted_user 12/11/2012

Hi, the Sinemet , makes u nauseous for while when u first start taking it. The feeling will go away in little while. If u have some weight to loose , this is the time to do it. Ha Ha
But on serious note, It is the protein which cause the Sinemet not to work. Protein and Sinamet compete which one gets to brain first, for some reason the protein always vins . That is what the experts say.
But I found , that if i have any food in my stomach, I do not get responds from the med. So i eat 20 to 30 min after I take the med. then i do not eat anything until i take my meds again. Some people do not have this problem and can take the meds with food. Go figure. Zlatica

hasty495 12/11/2012

Thanks everyone for your comments. I suppose it is like everything else with PD.... what works for one does not necessarily work for another. It seems as if the nausea is already getting better. Maybe I will adjust to the Sinemet soon. The good does outweigh the bad tho as the aching and shaking in my arm is much improved already. I had a return visit to my PCP this afternoon and he was well pleased with my improvement. Will still be seeing the neuro doc on 1/31/13. I am looking forward to anything they have to offer.

Hope everyone is having a good day. God bless.

deleted_user 12/14/2012

I've been taking Sinemet for several years. My doctor told me to take it before eating, but if I do, I throw up and don't feel like eating. When I told my him this, his remedy was a prescription for Phenergan, which does work but puts me to sleep. Also, Phenergan is addictive. I found if I take the Sinemet after a meal, or even while I'm eating, I usually don't get sick. So, that's what I do.

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