Julia, I concur with everything you've written. I am on Rytary and find it takes much longer for my symptoms to subside if I am late for a dose. And the diet advice is spot on. If I eat any protein near my dose time I do not have the response from the Rytary that I have without food. I do find that I need to wait 2 hours after eating for meals to digest due to a slow gastric emptying.

I take Rytary and I agree..Be as consistent with schedule as you can .. Yes,avoid eating just before ( 1 hour) and just after( 1 hour)...

Hi to all on the “off times.” Discuss with your physician if your Rytary is at the “therapeutic blood level” to reduce the amount of “off time.” Your medication may need to be adjusted. The Rytary and like medication works in the brain so physicians do not advise taking it closer that 4hours apart. Talk with your physician. It is critical that you take your meds ON TIME! Set your phone to alarm every time you need to take your meds. Do not skip 20, 30, 50 minutes. Take as soon as your alarm goes off! Also, please partner with your physicians. They are on YOUR TEAM. You are not on their team. Talk about therapeutic blood levels, which are levels where medication works best because you have enough in your system for the level of medication to remain fairly constant. Talk with your physician about cause and effect:
1) If you eat a lot of protein and take your meds at the same time, the protein interferes with the absorption of the Carbidopa/levodopa meds. Other foods also interfere, like fats. Timing your medications at least an hour before/after eating. Look at the information in the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research: “A Practical Guide” which included foods to watch out for when taking meds and dietary suggestions like the Mediterranean diet. I hope this helps. I find when I have “off time” it is usually because I dropped the ball and did not stop what I was going to take my Rytary. I take meds 6times a day from 6am to 10pm. It is crazy. Remember, like me, you may have to take other disease processes medications too. It is crazy, nuts, frustrating, but I have told myself,
“Don’t get frustrated because you have to take good care of yourself. That is self-defeating. Get the heck on your own team!” After a self-lecture, I do better for a while. 😷🤪😳. Stay well. Wear your masks. Hand sanitizer and hand wash. Please avoid crowds!! Listen to the Scientists. They have the MD/Ph.D to back up what they say! Their whole focus is to get us well with fewer deaths/cases.i

I have experienced the same problem. If i wait until I'm fading, I'll experience a longer than usual downtime. I take my meds by the clock ⏰ and things go much better.

Peanut1015AJ
IF YOU Google the Michael Fox PD websight they have a piece on foods for PD. It will refer to foods to not take within a hour before/after taking some medications. It is very helpful.