Kava blocks dopamine channels i had a rough time with mucuna because of constant kava consumption, so if she was taking levadopa and then some kava extract which we all know doesnt have the glutathione to protect us, that story just has so many flaws in saftey! lol.
I have seen it stated that yangonin blocks dopamine. I think actually in one of those same references I just cited. But on the other hand, kava is probably a mild MAOI, which means it would cause levels of all the catecholamines--including dopamine--to be increased. So if you are taking something like L-DOPA, or mucuna which iirc contains L-DOPA, you could inadvertently overdo the dopamine. [
EDIT: Too much dopamine could cause "jitteryness" or a feeling of overstimulation, but that is not the same as Parkinsonism. Lowered dopamine levels cause Parkinsonian symptoms, L-DOPA raises dopamine levels to treat those symptoms.
Lowered dopamine due to yangonin could theoretically cause Parkinsonian symptoms. These symptoms could happen if the effect of yangonin lowering dopamine is stronger than the dopamine-increasing MAOI effect, or if someone is already taking other medications that can lower dopamine such as anti-psychotics, or if the person actually already has Parkinson's Disease.
So the extent of this effect would depend both on kavalactone profile (how much yangonin there is vs other KLs) and on the individual] That could cause annoyance and discomfort, but would go away as soon as the drugs left your system. Note, that is a completely different thing than saying that kava can cause
Parkinson's Disease, which seems extremely unlikely to me. The difference is "Parkinsonian symptoms" go away when the substances causing them clear your system, whereas Parkinson's Disease is a
chronic, progressive disease. It never goes away. It is not normally caused by drug use, but just happens like cancer. (Although there are some things, like some designer opioids that can actually cause brain damage that leads to a permanent Parkinson-like condition)
So what are "Parkinsonian symptons" (or "
Parkinsonism") anyway?
1. Tremor
2. Bradykinesia (Slowness of movement)
3. Rigidity (Not being able to move)
4. Postural instability (Problems balancing, not being able to walk, or even stand, falling on your ass, etc)
These are symptoms that can be caused by many things including antipsychotic medication, other drugs, HIV infection, carbon monoxide poisoning, narcotics overdoses. In most but not all cases (exception is the neurotoxin MPTP found in designer street drugs in the 80's I don't know if it is still a problem these days), these symptoms are reversible when the cause is resolved or removed.
"Parkinson's Disease" is like I said, a chronic, progressive disease with the above symptoms. It's cause is
unknown in most cases.