L-dopa

Since there doesn’t seem to be an l-dopa thread, I figured I’d create one. I managed to get 10g of this stuff a couple of days ago and have been trying out a few doses, all I can say is: holy crap. I’ve never gotten this horny in my life. As far as aphrodisiacs go, I think this is one of the more risky ones, so I’m using it in moderation and trying to monitor my physical symptoms (officially it’s a parkinson’s medicine since it works by boosting overall dopamine levels). But honestly, wow.

Where did you get it from?

http://en.wikip … g/wiki/Levodopa

http://en.wikip … org/wiki/Mucuna
http://en.wikip … Mucuna_pruriens

I wouldn’t risk artificially boosting my dopamine level in that way, myself. Patients who need to take l-dopa develop some unfortunate side effects over time.

I think Lampwick’s point is worth reiterating. This has been great as an experiment, but I’m very sure it could only ever be used in the short-term, and it’s not without other behavioural side-effects. Even at a dose a quarter of typical Parkinson’s dose, my entire personality becomes a lot more compulsive. I’m more sexually aggressive, but also more generally aggressive.

As for suppliers (assuming you’ve assessed all the possible risks), l-dopa is considered a bodybuilding supplement in some larger countries like the US, so supply sites sell l-dopa extracted from mucuna pruriens.

This one’s not something to be taken lightly though.

Strange study I just ran across while doing some l-dopa research:

Effects of levodopa on nocturnal penile tumescence: a preliminary study

We studied the effects of levodopa (L-dopa), which is reported to increase the dopamine level in the brain, on male erectile function. Of the 21 subjects studied, 12 subjects who were 50 years old or older showed significant increases of two nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) parameters, NPT frequency and total tumescence time, with L-dopa. On the other hand, in nine subjects who were younger than 50 years, maximum penile circumference increase showed a significant increment with L-dopa. This significant increment of NPT with L-dopa was not observed in the subjects who had low androgen levels. The results of this preliminary study show a positive relationship between administration of L-dopa and erectile function. L-Dopa administration may improve erectile function in subjects aged 50 years and older who have normal androgen levels.

Can you please elaborate on this or quote a study?

I guess you never took a simple psych course when they yammer on for a chapter about abnormal psych? Never heard of tardive dyskinesia?

http://www.yout … h?v=FUr8ltXh1Pc

Side Effects

The side effects of L-DOPA may include:

* Hypotension, especially if the dosage is too high

* Arrhythmias, although these are uncommon

* Nausea, which is often reduced by taking the drug with food, although protein interferes with drug absorption

* Gastrointestinal bleeding

* Disturbed respiration, which is not always harmful, and can actually benefit patients with upper airway obstruction

* Hair loss

* Disorientation and confusion

* Extreme emotional states, particularly anxiety, but also excessive libido

* Vivid dreams and/or insomnia

* Auditory and/or visual hallucinations

* Effects on learning; there is some evidence that it improves working memory, while impairing other complex functions

* Somnolence and narcolepsy

* A condition similar to stimulant psychosis

Although there are many adverse effects associated with L-DOPA, particularly psychiatric ones, it has fewer than other antiparkinsonian agents, such as anticholinergics and dopamine receptor agonists.

More serious are the effects of chronic levodopa administration, which include:

* End-of-dose deterioration of function

* On/off oscillations

* Freezing during movement

* Dose failure (drug resistance)

* Dyskinesia at peak dose

* Recent studies have demonstrated that use of L-DOPA without simultaneously giving proper levels of serotonin percursors depletes serotonin

* The long term use of L-DOPA in PD has been linked to the so called dopamine dysregulation syndrome.[3]

Clinicians will try to avoid these side effects by limiting L-DOPA doses as much as possible until absolutely necessary.

Good post. The first batch of immediate/short-term symptoms is not an issue as they are all instantly recognizable - if they cause issue cease taking L-Dopa. They are not permanent.

The second batch is the one we need to worry about. Here are the key questions that I have not yet seen answered in the literature:

1) Is the Dyskinesia in Parkinsons patients using L-Dopa for 5-10 years caused by L-Dopa, by the serotonin-depleting effect that L-dopa has when not supplemented by a serotonin precursor (e.g. 5-HTP), or an entirely other reason? While the depletion of serotonin by unsupplemented L-dopa usage has been almost universally agreed upon, it is unclear if supplementation with 5-HTP to prevent this removes the Dyskinesia and other severe long-term side effects. It is only recently that the L-dopa caused decrease in serotonin has been observed, so I unfortunately doubt that there have been any long-term studies on PD patients who have been given L-dopa as well as 5-HTP or another serotonin precursor.

2) What doses were administered chronically to PD patients? 50mg daily? 250mg daily? 1000mg daily? I wonder how intermittent L-Dopa usage at low doses would differ from chronic dosage for PD purposes at (assumed) higher levels?

I’m sure that research is going on about how to ameliorate the side effects of L-Dopa therapy.

And I would not be so cavalier in dismissing the side effects in the first list. Arrhythmias, for example, can kill you. Of course, once dead, you are unlikely to continue taking L-Dopa or experience that particular side effect again.

What would be the objective of intermittent low dose L-Dopa?

I am looking for the safest method to reduce prolactin spike/dopamine dip post-ejaculation. I have rather high prolactin levels as is (14 - within “range” but nearly too high) and generally can only have sex once in a night. Options I am considering are vitex, l-dopa, and cabergoline.

I am not looking for long-term mood elevation. Just for example - if I will be having sex one night, I’d take the supplement an hour beforehand. So that is what I meant by intermittent use. Thoughts?

Sounds like a good subject for a clinical trial with precise measurement of dosages and blood chemistry in an appropriately sized group. Without that, you’re your own one-man guinea pig. Kinda like PE, but with a greater risk factor.

How do you know - other than trial and error, and your subjective observation - whether one hour before is the right number?

Just from having read other "logs" of people on it, which may or may not be accurate. The thing I like about L-Dopa is that I don’t have to test it for several weeks before it is supposed to "kick in", which reduces the risk IMO. If the thing does not work after a couple of trials, I am done with it. Too dangerous for chronic use.

Aforementioned "logs":

Getting EUPHORIC with L-Dopa! - Bodybuilding.com Forums

Notice that both are mentioning a product bought from a specific site and may be creative spam/advertising. That said, the claims could easily be tested in a couple of trials because neither account mentions any kind of build-up period - both claim it is almost immediately effective.

I will test and report back most likely, as I ordered a bottle.

I did a little more looking around the Internet. I saw estimates for the half-life of L-Dopa ranging from 45 minutes to an hour and a half, to one - two hours.

I read the logs you linked, plus the Wikipedia article on L-Dopa: http://en.wikip … org/wiki/L-DOPA . There are mentions of taking green tea with it for a protective effect. Are you going to do that?

Yes, the EGCG prevents L-Dopa build-up within the body and supposedly redirects it toward the brain (helps with prolactin suppression). Will post a log. Man, I’ll have a lot of fapping to do for this experiment. =P