When administering Mucuna Pruriens (L-dopa) with 5-HTP, L-cysteine, and cofactors IT IS IMPOSSIBLE to empirically determine if the Mucuna daily dosing value is too high or too low. It is recommended to do pill stops on Saturday and Sunday, then consider the dosage adjustment starting on Monday.
Pill stops are required. The following is a quick overview:
- When in doubt do a pill stop (rule number 1).
- Stop only the Mucuna, leave all other nutrients intact.
- A positive pill stop is when the patient is glowing with happiness with regards to what is felt the first 3 to 4 hours the morning of the second day.
- If the patient feels better the first day of the pill stop this means nothing.
- If the patient’s symptoms deteriorate markedly the first day of the pill restart the Mucuna immediately with the Mucuna increased by 2.4 grams per day, do not continue the pill stop into the second day.
- When the pill stop is ambiguous (can’t determine if the pill stop is positive or negative) simply increase the daily dosing value of Mucuna by 2.4 grams per day then do another pill stop in 5 days (if the patient has missed no pills).
- When a positive pills stop is found decrease the daily Mucuna dosing value by 600 mg every week until the optimal dose is found.
- In many cases, once the optimal daily dosing point is found it is beneficial to increase then decrease from that point the daily Mucuna dosing value by 300 mg looking for further response.
- Most Parkinson patients achieve no relief until the daily dosing value of Mucuna is 12 to 19 grams per day (40 to 60 pills).
- The optimal dosing value for Parkinson patients range from 14 to 55 grams with a mean of 27 grams. There is no uniform daily dose that fits all. Each patient has their own unique dose.
- About 4 to 6 weeks after starting the Mucuna submit a urine sample for urinary dopamine and serotonin analysis. This will determine if significant fluctuations that can affect stability of the clinical outcomes are present.
(from Dr Hinz guidelines)
