D5 Mucuna 40% is a formula that is used in cases where additional dopamine support is needed. D5 Mucuna 40% provides a source of L-DOPA from the extract of a legume called mucuna pruriens, and provides an effective method to increase catecholamine (dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine) support in the system.
Occasionally while we are working to establish the proper balance of amino acids using D5 Mucuna, a person will experience nausea or GI upset. Many people feel that this is a sign that they are not tolerating the D5 Mucuna, but experience shows us that this isn’t so. In these cases, when nausea develops it is a signal that there is an imbalance between serotonin and dopamine in the system which needs to be addressed and corrected.
The most common way to correct this imbalance is to first reduce the amount of serotonin in the system. If that doesn’t eliminate the nausea, then the amount of serotonin is slowly increased over time until the correct balance is achieved and the nausea disappears.
However, there is a common side effect when using D5 Mucuna that does indicate a decreased need or intolerance. When someone is taking more D5 Mucuna (and therefore more dopamine precursor) than their body needs, they will often report a significant increase in ‘brain fog’ , ‘inability to think’ and other cognitive impairments that they had never experienced before. These same symptoms disappear after 1-3 days of lowering or eliminating the D5 Mucuna. In these cases, the higher dose of D5 Mucuna created a short-term neurotransmitter imbalance resulting in cognitive impairment that is quickly corrected by lowering the dose.
