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Is Mucuna Safe With Parkinson's Medication and Other Drugs?
Mucuna and Parkinson's medication need a clinician's eye because mucuna seed is a natural source of L-dopa, the same compound as levodopa. One HoneyBoost gummy prints 9.8 mg of L-DOPA. Keep taking every prescribed medicine. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any L-DOPA source, including this one.
Written by the HoneyBoost label deskUpdated · 5 min read
The link01
Why does mucuna matter if you take Parkinson's medication?
Mucuna seed contains L-dopa, the compound that the Parkinson drug levodopa supplies. A study gave 15 g and 30 g of mucuna seed powder to eight people with Parkinson disease, and blood L-dopa rose (Katzenschlager 2004, Mucuna in Parkinson Disease (JNNP)).
So an L-dopa source is not a neutral herb for someone on levodopa. It is a second source of the same compound, and your prescriber sets your drug dose with that in mind.
One HoneyBoost gummy prints 10 mg of mucuna extract at 98% L-DOPA, or 9.8 mg of L-DOPA. That is a small amount next to the gram-sized doses studied. Small does not mean zero, and no source tested this amount in people on levodopa.
Never stop or change a Parkinson's, antidepressant or other prescribed medicine because of anything you read here. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.
MAO inhibitors02
What about MAO inhibitors?
MedlinePlus tells people to inform their doctor or pharmacist if they take, or stopped within two weeks, an MAO inhibitor before using levodopa (MedlinePlus, Levodopa and Carbidopa). It names phenelzine, selegiline and tranylcypromine.
That page is about the prescription drug, not mucuna. We do not say what the gummy does. We say that if you take an MAO inhibitor, the clinician should hear about every L-dopa source, supplements included.
The same page notes that levodopa and carbidopa may cause dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting when you get up too quickly.
Antipsychotics03
Do antipsychotic drugs interact with L-dopa?
A case report states that antipsychotic drugs reduce levodopa's effect by blocking dopamine receptors, and it describes a woman with a haloperidol and levodopa interaction (Lucca 2015, Haloperidol-Levodopa Interaction).
Again, that is about the drug levodopa. For mucuna, the safe reading is simple. If you take an antipsychotic, or a medicine that acts on dopamine, ask before adding any L-dopa product.
| If you take or have | What to do |
|---|---|
| Levodopa or other Parkinson medicine | Tell your prescriber about any L-dopa source |
| An MAO inhibitor | Ask your pharmacist before adding it |
| An antipsychotic | Ask your prescriber first |
| Any regular medicine or condition | The label says to consult a physician |
| Pregnant or breastfeeding | The label says do not take |
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See packsOn the label04
What does the HoneyBoost label say about medicines?
The label says: "Do not take if pregnant, lactating, suffering from a medical condition or taking other medications. Consult a physician before using this product."
That is broad, and it covers medicines like those above. The label prints no directions line, and it does not name L-dopa as a caution. We cannot find a source that tests the gummy with any drug.
Bring the bottle to your pharmacist. Show the Supplement Facts and the Mucuna line. Our supplements and medications guide lists more questions, and the mucuna page covers the ingredient. For the dose side, see our mucuna dosage post.
Report any bad reaction to FDA MedWatch (FDA, MedWatch). Call 911 for chest pain, fainting or an erection lasting over 4 hours.
FAQ05
Mucuna and Parkinson's medication questions
Can I take mucuna with levodopa?
Ask your prescriber first. Mucuna seed is a natural source of L-dopa, the compound levodopa supplies. We found no study of the gummy with the drug. Keep taking levodopa as prescribed.
Does mucuna interact with antidepressants?
We found no source testing mucuna with antidepressants. MedlinePlus lists MAO inhibitors, a type of antidepressant, as a reason to tell your doctor before levodopa. Ask your pharmacist about any L-dopa source.
Is the L-DOPA in a HoneyBoost gummy enough to matter?
We cannot say. One gummy prints 9.8 mg of L-DOPA, far below the studied gram doses of seed powder, but no source tested that amount with medicines. Treat it as something a clinician should know about.
Should people with Parkinson disease take mucuna supplements?
That is a decision for the person's neurologist. A study used mucuna seed powder in patients under supervision, at gram doses. Supplements vary in strength, so do not use one in place of a prescribed medicine.
Who wrote this06
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the order page and linked NIH, FDA, FTC, Mayo Clinic and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a USA Authorized HoneyBoost Retailer. It is not the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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