I am personally convinced that high intake of some proteins concurrently with levodopa interferes with its absorption. I was in the habit of taking my levodopa and washing it down with artificially sweetened black current.
The effects on me were somewhat erratic. Sometimes all PD (Parkinson’s disease) symptoms would be diminished, at other times some would remain. I then noted that the sweetener (marketed under the name of NutraSweet) included phenylalanine which in turn has a molecular structure somewhat similar to dopamine. I switched to the sugar sweetened variety and all my PD symptoms were diminished – in some cases to the point of eradication. I believe that other changes to my medication, diet and lifestyle (more fiber, more exercise, less feeling sorry for myself) have also helped.
I was examined by a neurologist on May 26th and he said that he found it difficult to believe that I had Parkinson’s at all – he had not seen me before I started the levodopa + eldepryl + florinef + Vitamin E + high fibre + exercise + positive thinking. Right now I feel “normal” for the first time in three years. Incidentally, when I first started on levodopa I felt constantly nauseous and it was several months before I could take the medication without unpleasant side effects.