Tremors, rigidity, postural instability, and other motor problems characterize Parkinson's Disease. One of the most effective treatments in Parkinson's is using the drug called Selegine, also known as Deprenyl. It inhibits the enzyme called MAO-B, which results in decreasing the degradation of dopamine and therefore increasing its concentration. Deprenyl also has many other benefits to help conserve dopamine.

Often times high amounts of Deprenyl are used to help neutralize the motor effects and symptoms of Parkinson's. High amounts may be considered 30-50 milligrams a day. This is understandable, to help reduce or stop Parkinson's symptoms. However, using high doses of Deprenyl may reduce its effectiveness. When you use any substance frequently and in higher amounts than normal, you deplete your body of enzymes that are needed for the chemical reactions started by the substance, you reduce the efficiency of the drug or supplement, you increase the chance of side effects, and you perhaps build up potential allergies. Also, as efficiency of the drug or supplement decreases, than potential accumulation of chemical steps that are not completed may occur, transport and other mechanisms in the body may become inefficient, end result products occur less frequently, and many other inefficiencies. Therefore, it is of great value to find methods to improve the effectiveness of Deprenyl, so doses of Deprenyl can stay in normal ranges considered about 10-20 milligrams for most elderly people.

L-phenylalanine, an amino acid, has been shown to increase the effectiveness of Deprenyl. In one European study of 155 patients, 5-10 milligrams of Deprenyl and 250 milligrams of phenylalanine, was administered for depression (Deprenyl is often used as an anti-depression drug) with outstanding results (Dean, 1993). Nearly seventy percent of the patients achieved total alleviation of depression, while more than twenty percent of the remaining patients achieved moderate improvement. Usual doses for Deprenyl, when used by itself for treating depression are about 15 to 60 milligrams a day. It is effective in relieving depression for about 50 percent of those treated (Schatzberg, 1990). Another smaller study of 10 patients, using only 5 milligrams of Deprenyl, 100 milligrams of vitamin B6, and 1 to 6 grams of phenylalanine were given every other day for major types of depression that had proved resistant to other drug therapies (Dean, 1993). 60 per cent of these patients reported complete relief from depression in only 2 to 3 days. Most antidepressants take about 4-6 weeks for full effect (Better Sex Through Chemistry, John Morgenthaler and Dan Joy, Smart Publications, 1994). It appears that phenylalanine and B6 improved the effectiveness of Deprenyl.

Dr. Bob was a MD internal medicine, orthomolecular doctor, MD psychiatrist, chiropractor, and healer 65 years. He was a diabetic who lived to 108 years with only 1 side effect 2 years before he passed away. Dr. Bob practiced a system of medicine called orthomolecular medicine. It is a system of medicine that uses mainly natural substances that are non-toxic and safe in wide range of doses. It uses mainly herbs and minerals/vitamins.

Dr. Bob advised supplements that enhanced Deprenyl, especially for Parkinson's Disease. The following are Dr. Bob's orthomolecular ideas to improve the effectiveness of Deprenyl, thereby allowing smaller doses for Parkinson's Disease.

1. Dr. Bob advised supplementing 2-3 B50's each day, in divided doses. The B-50 contains vitamin B6 as well as the other B vitamins. B vitamins increase cell permeability, improve detox, increase energy, and many other vital cellular functions, which will help improve the ability of cells to process the chemical reactions resulting from Deprenyl.

2. Dr. Bob advised 250 mg of L-phenylalanine in the AM and PM. He recommended you use ion-exchange whey concentrate powder that included the L-phenylalanine. Whey is high quality, pre-digested protein, in a protein powder supplement. The building blocks of the body are amino acids, and whey protein can provide many essential amino acids necessary for the stress of Parkinson's, aside from L-phenylalanine.

3. Dr. Bob advised a multivitamin and mineral. He recommended the brand Maxilife. Dr. Bob liked the doses and quality of Maxilife. A multi supplies cofactors needed for any supplement programs.

4. Dr. Bob advised using ginseng with G115. This is a proven product that can enhance energy by increasing the utilization of oxygen in the body. Increased oxygen to the brain will enhance neurons, improve nerve function, improve efficiency in the brain, and many other benefits that can help Deprenyl work better.

5. Dr. Bob advised 120-240 mg of ginkgo biloba. Ginkgo biloba increases circulation in the brain. This will help to improve the efficiency of the brain, which can help increase the effectiveness of Deprenyl.

6. Dr. Bob advised 10-15 mg of vinpocetine. Vinpocetine improves circulation and efficiency in specific parts of the brain. This can also have a potentiating effect on Deprenyl.

7. Dr. Bob advised 500 mg of vitamin B5 in the AM and PM. B5 is involved, as a cofactor, with almost all the chemical reactions that take place in the brain. Dr. Bob said research had indicated that B5 is often needed in a ratio of 1-3 with other brain supplements you are taking. This means for 250 mg of L-phenylalanine you would need about 83 mg of B5. The stress of Parkinson's may require different numbers, but Dr. Bob advised starting out with about 1 gram of B5 a day to ensure you get optimal amounts needed to help run the brain and neutralize the stress of Parkinson's.

8. Dr. Bob advised 1 gram in AM and PM of inositol powder. Inositol has many benefits. Dr. Bob advised it for Parkinson's because it helps improve nerve conduction. In Parkinson's, relaxing the muscles and nerves helps control motor symptoms. The stress of motor symptoms is disruptive to the nerves, possibly affecting parasympathetic and the sympathetic nerves at the same time. This over stimulated and unregulated nerve conduction must be calmed. Inositol helps to restore proper nerve conduction and helps nerves return to normal function.

9. Dr. Bob advised 750 mg of no flush hexanicotinate niacin, in divided doses. The Coronary Drug Project was a study by the modern medical establishment for 2 decades. One conclusion of the study was that about 750 milligrams of niacin B3 reduced mortality from all causes by about 40 per cent. Hexanicotinate is actually a more effective form of niacin, because less of it breaks down in the blood brain barrier than other forms of niacin. The less that breaks down, the more there is for the chemical reactions needed in the body. Dr. Bob advised niacin because it increases cell membrane permeability and it flushes the bloodstream. Increasing cell membrane permeability and improving the circulation can have a potentiating effect on Deprenyl.

10. We advise the supplement TMG. There are many chemical processes involved with dopamine and other aspects of the brain, including a chemical process called methylation. High levels of a by-product protein called homocysteine can interfere with methylation. Methylation is involved with nor epinephrine (produced by its precursor dopamine) producing epinephrine. Methylation is involved with many other functions in the brain and is thus an important chemical process in Parkinson's. Homocysteine can therefore interfere in aspects relating to dopamine, which can lead to decreasing the effectiveness of Deprenyl. Often in chronic disease, such as Parkinson's, high levels of homocysteine occur. TMG can help lower homocysteine. You can also supplement SAMe to achieve the same results in lowering homocysteine levels. This can help Deprenyl work better, by increasing cellular health and helping promote methylation.

11. Dr. Bob advised 5-9 grams of buffered vitamin C powder a day, in divided doses. Vitamin C has been shown necessary for the synthesis of dopamine, important as an electron donor for antioxidants, and many other important functions in the body. Vitamin C helps improve the health of cells and synthesize dopamine, which can enhance Deprenyl.

12. We advise 400 mg of alpha lipoic acid, in divided doses. Alpha lipoic acid has many benefits, it helps improve fats, which will enhance other supplements at the cell membrane levels (the cell membrane is made from fats). It also improves nerves, which are over stimulated from Parkinson's Disease. Improving nerves is necessary in order to calm them down and help regulate them properly.

13. Dr. Bob advised a fatty acid supplement. Dr. Bob recommended Udos Oil from Flora, or equal amounts of pumpkinseed oil and flax oil. A teaspoon in the AM and PM. Cell membranes are made from fatty acids and therefore high quality fatty acids should be considered to help improve cell membranes. Improving cell membranes can potentiate the effects of drugs, such as Deprenyl.

Supplement as many of the above as possible, at the same time, to increase the potentiating effects. If possible, take these supplements about 20 minutes before Deprenyl. If you can do this on an empty stomach, making a whey protein shake, and then 20 minutes later take the Deprenyl, you may find quite a boost.

Warning - the doses recommended were approximately the amounts Dr. Bob ended up using for Parkinson's. These are not the recommended starting doses. All of the above ideas can help potentiate the effects of each other. It takes time to build up doses. Find an orthomolecular doctor or nutritional specialist, who knows how to start at the smallest possible doses and build them up. The Deprenyl dose will likely need to be decreased, because of the potentiating effects of the other supplements. Dr. Bob found just taking a B50 or B100 on an empty stomach, a few minutes before using Deprenyl, would often require lowering the Deprenyl dose, due to the boost to metabolism by B vitamins. If you start at the highest doses for these supplements, then you may not be successful in implementing these supplements as a method to potentiate Deprenyl. Potentiating Deprenyl can lead to lowering the Deprenyl dose, while possibly getting even greater effects from Deprenyl at the lower dose than at the previously higher dose. In a disease of chronic stress such as Parkinson's, see a nutritional specialist before starting supplements, especially at these higher optimal doses.

In conclusion, the above mentioned nutritional ideas can help improve cellular health, increase cellular energy, improve nerve health, enhance nerve conduction, and many other benefits. If you combine these supplements, on an empty stomach or with a whey protein shake (you can pour out all the powder from the capsules of the supplements into the whey shake and mix in a blender), and then afterwards take your Deprenyl, you may be totally surprised by the feeling of energy and calmness. Good luck.


Note – In order for these anti-aging ideas to be successful, you must use supplements of the highest quality. Dr. Bob often said, "almost all supplement companies produce poor quality." You can consider the product page of this web site. Almost all the products met Dr. Bob’s approval. Since he passed away we have attempted to keep the same high standards.

WARNING:  DO NOT STOP ANY TREATMENT OR MEDICATION YOU CURRENTLY USE.  CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE STARTING THE USE OF SUPPLEMENTS. 

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The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated any of the statements contained on this web site. The information contained in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Remember each person's body is different and will react differently to various herbal, vitamin and mineral supplements. Therefore, any supplementation must be administered on an individual basis. Use the information found on this web site as precisely that: Information. You and your doctor must make any final decisions. This information is not meant to replace any doctor and patient consultation. This information should in no way replace your personal physician's advice.