2. Dopamine Repletion

The most pressing question people present to me in clinic is, "Should I start levodopa?"

My opinion is one of many and there are very well-informed clinicians out there who will have a different approach to introducing meds than what I propose in this video. My goal is that you'll watch this video, familiarize yourself with some of the options and concerns around the different strategies and then you can sit down with your clinician and make a well-informed decision that includes your history, disease severity, and personal goals.

In this course we'll discuss the major side effects of all major classes of PD medications (levodopa, agonists, MAO-B inhibitors, and mucuna). We'll discuss which medications are thought to have some disease-modifying activity (as those should probably be started sooner).

Beyond the generic advice of, "Take your medication 30 min before or 60 min after a meal," we'll discuss which foods CAN be taken with medication, how to prevent protein malnutrition, how to choose proteins that are more easily digestible than others, and how you can tell if your diet is interfering with your medication.

"Thanks for your views on cognitive testing. Very helpful!"

"Once again, thank you. I'm continuing to pick up information from your lectures that is helping me to correct the way I take Levodopa. Great work!"

"Hi Laurie, really enjoying these talks and thank you!"