NOW Foods Supplements, DOPA Mucuna, Standardized Mucuna Extract with Naturally Occurring 15% L-Dopa, 180 Veg Capsules

I’ll try to keep this as short as possible, but there’s a lot to get through. I’m no expert on anything, just a normal person getting by so I can’t explain the science but I can share my story and you can decide for yourself how to proceed. I first took mucuna pruriens from a different brand over a decade ago for reasons I can’t recall, sleep regulation I think. I took it for 2-3 years until I decided it wasn’t doing any good and stopped. A few years ago I was really struggling with sleep again and bought some of this NOW mucuna (I think it was labeled L-Dopa then) and within the first few days my sleep worsened so I stopped again. For years I had that bottle just sitting nearly full in my supplement cabinet and never touched it. A few months back I saw it and decided to throw it away, but felt bad about wasting it so I started taking 1 capsule with breakfast. In the years between first taking mucuna and now I had gone from a 28 yr old DJ working nights and going to school and gym during the day and partying on my nights off to a 41 yr old machinist who gets a hangover from staying up an hour past bedtime. I’d lost a step and never seemed to have the energy to do what needed to be done, namely remodeling a home and decluttering a rental, on top of all the usual daily and weekly routine chores we all have. With about 2 weeks of 1 capsule per day I gradually became more energetic and found myself completing tasks with little to no friction or inertia that would often keep me procrastinating for weeks or longer. The sight of dust on a table or cobwebs in a corner would trigger me to immediate action. My mood improved by an order of magnitude and I became more sociable with strangers, not to mention friends and family. Life just seemed to be clicking for some reason, but I had attributed it to a newfound love for folding knives (this will be important later.) Then I remembered I’d added this capsule to the handful I was already taking. I did some research to see what exactly was going on and began to learn about dopamine regulation. After a few more weeks I lost my motivation. I’m a 6’2” 260 lb weightlifter, so I figured 2 capsules was better for someone my size. Life started clicking again, and I put several irons in the fire and carried on. Then a few weeks later, the same loss of motivation and mood, the same return to friction. I went to 3 capsules a day. By this point the writing was on the wall. I didn’t “crash” into depression like others have described, but I generally stay at a consistent, if low, mood anyway. This is not a daily supplement, it’s an intervention to break the cycle of dopamine addiction you’ve unknowingly picked up from clicking and scrolling, sipping and puffing, etc. etc. This product will get you off the couch and into the gym or whatever you should be doing, but the key is that you have to cycle off for a while (2 weeks works for me), refrain from picking back up on whatever habit overloaded your system to start with, AND resist picking up new useless habits that would slide in their place. The mucuna can only do so much, and the more dopamine you pump into your brain the faster you’ll burn out or “crash”. I accidentally replaced my cell phone habit with folding knives, and in my enthusiasm spent thousands buying knives, scrap metal, tools, books, anodizing equipment and fluids, and spent hours making knives - on top of remodeling a house, decluttering a rental, gym, meal prep, studying and all the usual daily and weekly routines we all have. Everyone is different, so I can’t promise you’ll get results, but my experience suggests this stuff can give you a window to take action toward a more productive routine and better outlook, but can’t be taken constantly to maintain it like a vitamin or something. In my opinion this should be treated more like a medication and used in a “minimum effective dose” manner. The only side effects I noticed was more REM sleep, resulting in very vivid and detailed dreams and shallower sleep. This seemed to trigger a mild but nagging eyelid twitch that lasted for several weeks, which was annoying but didn’t affect my vision, and stopped eventually. If you’re looking at this product I assume you’re familiar with dopamine, possibly dopamine detox or fasting, but if not I can only point you toward Andrew Huberman or Cal Newport. Good luck out there.

TLDR: To treat symptoms of low dopamine levels, here's what's working for me: 500-700mg Glutamine (amino acid, a major brain neurotransmitter) 1-3 times per day before food. 1/32 teaspoon of this mucuna pruriens (~7 mg L-dopa) every 1-2 days, watching effects. 600 mg of acetyl l-carnitine before breakfast Other vitamins and minerals, especially Bs Update 3/23/23--I am feeling mentally and physically alert, a huge improvement. (see caution below) Last summer I was prescribed the smallest possible dose of a dopamine-boosting CNS med, 5mg. After decades of untreated symptoms, I felt calm relief for the first time in my long life. Then in December, the HMO denied me further prescriptions and treated me like an addict for having asked for more. They also tried to force an antidepressant on me that would affect the absolutely wrong mechanism and worsen anxiety and sleeplessness without compensating for the low dopamine. Their timing was especially cruel. My heart goes out to all Americans who experience this medical bullying. I did not want to bother with this department further. Instead, I revisited my nutritional supplements (which I keep on an excel spreadsheet, and periodically adjust). I also suspected the CNS drug was causing symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, specifically numbness in toes, feet and lower legs. A neurologist found some long nerves to be unresponsive. (Update: Probably due to potassium deficiency, from drinking reverse osmosis water for 1.5 years, which strips out *all* useful minerals. I started taking 99mg/day potassium chloride--NuSalt--and drank filtered tap water again. Feeling slowly restored in feet and toes. Neuropathy runs in family but I feel much better.) My first choice for treating my scrambled low-dopamine brain was to take the amino acid glutamine. Gives me an immediate mental boost and durable energy, and is curbing cravings, especially for sugar. Glutamine is likely not toxic until you take massive quantities (at my weight, that would be 38 grams per day instead of 2 grams max). (google side effects of amino acid supplements) I also took one 400 mg cap of this this mucuna pruriens in the morning. Like other reviewers here, after an initial boost, in just a few days I had fatigue, blurry vision and brain fog. Stopped it for a week. Brain fog cleared. Took one pill per week, same thing. Read the label more closely. The dosage of this capsule is just too dang high. So I emptied some capsules and measured. Each capsule = ~1/4 teaspoon product = 60mg L-dopa. L-dopa does cross the blood-brain barrier and it's the precursor for dopamine. I don't know how that compares with the 5mg of my CNS drug but it was waaaay too much for me. Stopped taking altogether and was dragging and unfocused within a week. I reduced dosage further. Now I am taking about 1/32 tsp of this powdered product in my coffee before breakfast, every day. Am feeling energetic and calm throughout the day. Not speeded or anxious. The idea is to microdose--hopefully kickstart your own dopamine production, rather than replace it chemically. Plus, about 600 mg of acetyl l-carnitine in my prebreakfast cocktail, which I have noticed gives me energy and focus. We will see. I'll be watching this mucuna very closely as I don't want to develop a habituation as some have reported. 3/23/23--Because I'm now feeling good, I will next stop for a couple of days to see the impact. 4/25--Have not taken any more mucuna. I think it did help me for that time. But other medical issues took precedence including thyroid. Things get more complicated at 60+. And, um, reducing wine consumption to 1 bottle red per month definitely helped my alertness. Good luck to all.

These vitamins really do work for supplements whatever you want to call them. It's basically a life changer I was really depressed and down didn't feel good inside. I purchased these and felt really good I didn't repurchase them because I didn't realize that they were working until I stopped taking them. I will continue to purchase. One time I did get them and they had an odd smell like a sour smell eye contacted Amazon and they refunded me my money right away. If you're looking for something to help with your mental State of mind purchase these I promise you'll be glad you did!

I decided to try NOW Foods DOPA Mucuna to support my mood, motivation, and overall well-being, and I’ve had a mostly positive experience. Here’s my breakdown: Pros: ✅ Natural Dopamine Boost – Mucuna pruriens is known for its L-Dopa content, which helps support dopamine levels. I noticed an improvement in my motivation and overall mood after consistent use. ✅ Good for Energy & Focus – While it’s not a stimulant, I’ve felt more alert and focused, especially in the mornings. It pairs well with my regular supplements for cognitive support. ✅ High-Quality Brand – NOW Foods is a trusted brand in the supplement industry, and I appreciate their commitment to purity and third-party testing. ✅ Easy to Take – The capsules are easy to swallow, and I didn’t experience any unpleasant aftertaste or stomach discomfort. Cons: ⚠️ Effects Differ for Everyone – While I experienced noticeable benefits, not everyone may respond the same way. Some people may need to adjust their dosage to find the right balance. ⚠️ May Interact with Medications – Since L-Dopa affects dopamine levels, it’s important to check with a doctor before taking this, especially if you’re on antidepressants or other medications. ⚠️ Best Taken in Moderation – Taking too much may lead to mild side effects like restlessness or digestive discomfort. I found that a lower dose worked best for me. Final Verdict: NOW Foods DOPA Mucuna is a great supplement for those looking to naturally support dopamine levels, focus, and mood. It’s high quality and effective, but individual results may vary. As with any supplement, it’s best to start with a lower dose and consult a healthcare provider if you have concerns. 4.5/5 stars! Would you like me to tailor this review based on your personal experience with the supplement?

Dopa Macuna is a bean. It can be cooked and eaten or used raw as a supplement. It contains L-Dopa which is where a majority of its benefits come from. There are other compounds like seratonin and even nicotine in very small amounts. I seeked it out after trying Vyvanse. It's for ADD. It produces excess dopamine which is good but bad as well. It's addictive and unnatural. I won't go into it but drugs are drugs and they have side effects. They also miss the mark most often. Anyway amphetamines are good and bad but again I digress. The point is that Dopa Mucuna is amazing. If you take other meds that suppress dopamine then you either don't need it or you do and you need to drop those meds because I tried it and it didn't work when I was on another psych med. If you are taking this as some sort of pre-workout or some other nonsense then this is not for you. If you have normal amount of dopamine this is not for you. If you are bipolar this might be for you. If you have restless leg syndrome this might be for you. If you have Parkinson's this is for you. This product is for anybody who suffers from low dopamine. There are clearly two types of depressions people suffer from. One is deficiency of serotonin. One is a deficiency of serotonin. The first thing a doctor will say is it's low serotonin but maybe not. Not for me. My depression is a low energy, low ambition and drive type of depression. I'm bi-polar and I'm not sure why but we are low in dopamine a lot. Since taking this product I'm more ambitious and happy and energetic. I'm also more confident and have more stamina. I attribute this stuff to its ability to increase human growth hormone and testosterone. It increases seminal mobility and a bunch of other stuff I'm certain I read that. Men: this product is for you. I've taken this product for about six weeks now. I take two in the morning when I wake up and the effects just continue to last 24 hours a day. There is no amphetamine that will do this for you. I sleep normally on this product. My anxiety is less. If I take one I feel depression within hours. If I take three I start to feel overly aggressive and irritated. The idea of all this is that two seems to be the perfect amount for a 170 pound man. This product has changed my life and I mean that in no small way. I always wake up feeling energetic and I love that. I really believe that my testosterone must be at least a little bit higher. I haven't read up much on human growth hormone but I'm sure the fact that this product increases it will have a positive effect on the body. HGH is the holy grail of youth! This hormone decreases with age. It gives you muscle mass and all around stamina. Don't be fooled by poor reviews if you have read my " is this supplement for me?". Most bad reviews are people who took it either improperly, for the wrong reason, or didn't have a dopamine deficiency. Other than the above this might just change your life!

FOR REFERENCE: Early 30's aged female,230lbs ADD,Generalized Anxiety/Panic Disorder,Major Depressive Disorder,PTSD. Prozac: 20mg/day Dexadrine: 30mg/day Not sure how long I'm supposed to take this for positive effects, but it's been 2 months of daily use so i felt I should write a review. Took this because I was seeking additional emotional improvements during the stressful work week and don't want to increase my dosage of medications. Noticed nothing the first few weeks. After the first month, I noticed that I am falling asleep easier because I'm not fidgeting so much. I had trouble keeping my legs still before, now that's not much of a problem. So my body seems a bit more calm. My moods,however,not so much. I find that I'm actually a little more outspoken than before,if something bothers me then i'll say it before thinking it through or keeping to myself. This is unusual for me. That's not a bad effect, and I will continue to take this supplement for the benefit of my restless legs at night. Hopefully I'll find something to help my moods more, maybe this helps others who have a different brain chemistry? The only reason why I gave it 3 stars is because I was seeking more benefits from it and others had better luck with it.

My entire life I've been depressed and pretty hopeless. I'm pretty sure now that a lot of it had to do with having too many stimulants in my system at any given time (sugar, caffeine, alcohol, THC, nicotine, were the main ones) so my body I guess either never made enough dopamine, or just forgot how to make it. Either way, I was sitting in my living room without a single reason to be feeling crappy (work is great, friends are awesome, dog is healthy, I'm physically in the best shape I've been in a long time) yet still feeling incredibly hopeless and lonely, all the bad stuff. Came across the combo of Dopa Mucuna, L-Tyrosine, and fish oil thanks to Amazon and my life has completely flipped upside down for the better. In the course of one month, I effortlessly quite smoking after almost 30 years, bodybuilding results have soared, zero depression or anxiety, my dog is happier because I'm happier, hooked up with 3 women in one week after literally a year and a half of having no attention from the opposite sex, I have dreams again, vivid awesome dreams, lost my desire for sugar and caffeine, socially I'm now the Gemini I've been reading about all these years (super social and can't get enough of people in general), stopped drinking alone at home, and basically broke every bad habit I developed over the course of my life because I've been depressed. I still can't believe it hasn't stopped working putting me back at square one like every other thing I've tried to help myself.

Love the product. A little background on me first, I’ve suffered from depression since I was a child. It comes and it goes, but mostly comes. I have tried every SSRI out there, and I always seemed to get the worst side effects. The last one I took left me with terrible thoughts, and quite possibly the worst mental state I’ve ever been in in my life. So I vowed to never take another SSRI, because really, I don’t want to have thoughts I’m killing someone. Not cool at all. Sooo, I researched. And I keeeept researching.. and I came across this. I didn’t have much hope, I’ve spent years trying to find something, anything to help me just be happy.. alll I wanted was to be happy, and have some motivation to get out of bed. This is it you guys. This supplement saved me. The first day I took 2 with lunch, and I’m a couple hours I just felt like a new person. Very positive thoughts, no issues getting motivated... I just wish I would have found it sooner, I would probably be a damn neurosurgeon by now.. lol! Seriously. Try it. If you’re deficient in dopamine, it may just make your world a beautiful balanced place. If you aren’t, well it was still worth the try. Good luck to everyone out there suffering. It’s not easy but don’t give up on finding the one thing that works for you. You will. 💖