Mucuna pruriens / L dopa headaches

[perkin]

Hi guys

First post here.

I've been taking mucuna pruriens in powder form for 5 days - the effect I'm looking for is improved mood, better concentration and to help with lucid dreaming that I've been practicing.

Unfortunately after only a couple of days of taking it, I've been experiencing pretty bad headaches, starting at the front of my head. I've also noticed a slight increase in anxiety and not sleeping well at all, I have had some crazy vivid dreams but to the point of scary, last night I seemed lost in a dream about a dream within another dream and at one point I'm not sure if I was awake or in a dream, but I was lost and it scared the crap out of me!

So, should I stop all together, or take a smaller does (currently 1 teaspoon a day in my breakfast), or do I need to take it with anything else? I read it's beneficial to take it with green tea?

On a positive note, the first couple of days it seemed to help with my meditation, I felt I went deeper into the meditation - although I am wondering if it could have simply been placebo?

I'm 40 years old, 140 pounds, very clean vegan diet, exercise and meditate regularly, not taking any medication.

Thanks

 

[Maya]

^I would take a smaller dose and take it with green tea and see if that helps. If not, there are other natural remedies/supplements like Rhodiola or L-tyrosine might be of benefit.

 

[Gabboud97]

Hi perkin
These are the Side effect, safety, risks and danger of taking mucuna pruriens:

When mucuna pruriens is taken in high dosages, there could be side effects such as increased body temperature, excess energy, insomnia, and rapid heart beat. If you are taking other supplements or medications, either take a pill your first day by itself or, if you must take the medications use half a capsule to avoid any potential interactions. The benefits and side effects of long term use in humans are not known, therefore users and their doctors should be vigilant for any symptoms or signs that could relate to a potential long term side effect
The headache u r experiencing must be from the dosage u r taking I recommend you to take smaller doses and see if the headache continues if it doesn't than it was probably from the dosage if not u should consult a doctor and ask for his opinion

For the point of taking mucuna pruriens with green tea it is actually better because according to what I read in many articles it is strongly advised to take it with green tea.

 

[sasal]

Healthy people over 40 shouldn't take more then a gram of powder (50 mg L-dopa) at the beginning.