If you live with Parkinson’s Disease like I do, you probably already know how unpredictable symptoms can be. One day your tremor is manageable, the next day your muscles feel like they’re firing on their own. For months, I kept experiencing strange waves of dyskinesia, internal tremors, nerve pain, and sudden spikes of anxiety — and none of it matched my medication schedule.
At first, I blamed my L-DOPA timing. Then I blamed stress. Then I blamed sleep.
But eventually, after experimenting with diet changes and tracking my symptoms closely, I realized something I had never expected:
Oxalates were playing a major role in my Parkinson’s symptoms — especially dyskinesia, twitching, and sudden OFF-like episodes.
Today I want to share what I’ve learned so far, in hopes that it might help someone else avoid the confusion I went through.
What Are Oxalates, and Why Are They a Problem?
Oxalates are natural compounds found in foods like spinach, nuts, potatoes, beans, beets, chocolate, and even tea. Normally, your body binds them to minerals and flushes them out.
But here’s the part nobody told me:
If you eat too many oxalates — or reduce them too quickly — they can irritate nerves, disrupt electrolytes, and drain thiamine (vitamin B1).
And all three of these can trigger or worsen Parkinson’s symptoms.
I didn’t fully understand this connection until I went through something called oxalate dumping — a phase where the body suddenly releases stored oxalates. And trust me… you can feel it.
How Oxalates Mess With the Nervous System
Through research, testing, and consulting with experts, I learned that oxalates can affect movement in several ways. Here are the big ones:
1. Nerve Irritation
Oxalates can activate peripheral nerves and increase firing sensitivity.
For me, that felt like:
- random muscle twitching
- buzzing under the skin
- “electrical” sensations
- sudden jerks or dyskinesia after certain meals
2. Electrolyte Disruption
When oxalates move through the body, they can bind minerals like:
- magnesium
- calcium
- potassium
Low levels of these can trigger tremors or spasms — even if your Parkinson’s meds are perfect.
3. Mitochondrial Stress
Oxalates increase oxidative stress, which can:
- reduce energy
- increase fatigue
- make muscles “tired but twitchy”
- worsen OFF periods
4. Thiamine (B1) Drain
This one surprised me the most:
Oxalates and thiamine are locked in a two-way cycle.
- Low thiamine → your body produces more oxalate
- More oxalate → drains more thiamine
- Low thiamine → worsens nerve excitability
- And the cycle repeats…
And many thiamine deficiency symptoms look exactly like Parkinson’s:
- stiffness
- tremor
- rapid fatigue
- anxiety surges
- “OFF-like” periods that don’t respond to medication
5. Inflammation
High oxalates can irritate tissues, raising neuro-excitability — which means existing PD symptoms hit harder.
Symptoms That Made Me Suspect an Oxalate Problem
Here are the patterns I noticed before I understood what was happening:
- Dyskinesia flaring after eating potatoes or nuts
- Burning or tingling in hands and feet
- Muscle jerks that didn’t match my L-DOPA timing
- Spikes of internal tremor on “random” days
- Pelvic or flank discomfort (kidney irritation)
- Gritty urine sensation
- Symptoms coming in waves over weeks
If you’ve ever had PD symptoms that don’t behave like PD, oxalates may be worth exploring with your healthcare team.
The Oxalate Dumping Phase — The Most Confusing Part
When I reduced high-oxalate foods too quickly, I learned the hard way that:
Stored oxalates don’t just vanish — they come out in waves.
And during this phase:
- nerves become more sensitive
- magnesium drops
- electrolytes shift
- thiamine gets used up rapidly
- gut irritation makes it harder to absorb nutrients
For me, this led to days where it felt like a full OFF episode,
but my meds were working fine.
If your symptoms improve when you take magnesium or electrolytes instead of more L-DOPA… that’s a big clue.
The Thiamine–Oxalate Cycle Explained Simply
Here’s the cycle I wish I had understood earlier:
- Low thiamine → more oxalates produced internally
- Oxalates → deplete thiamine and magnesium
- Dumping → increases demand for thiamine even more
- Low magnesium → poor activation of thiamine
- Repeat → symptoms rise
For Parkinson’s patients, this cycle can look like:
- tremors randomly intensifying
- muscle jerks
- brain fog
- burning sensations
- dyskinesia without medication triggers
Once I supported both thiamine + magnesium, the cycle started to calm down.
Forms of Thiamine That Helped Me Most
Different forms work differently, and everyone responds uniquely, but here’s what I learned:
- TTFD — best for neurological symptoms, fatigue, dumping sensitivity
- Benfotiamine — great for nerve pain, inflammation, sensory issues
- Thiamine HCl — works well if digestion is strong
Important: Always take thiamine away from L-DOPA to avoid interaction.
Practical Steps That Helped Reduce Oxalate-Related Flare-Ups
These strategies helped me stabilize my symptoms:
1. Don’t drop oxalates suddenly — taper instead.
A sudden low-oxalate diet can trigger dumping.
2. Calcium with meals.
Calcium citrate binds oxalates in the gut and reduces absorption.
3. Support thiamine + magnesium together.
Magnesium glycinate calmed my muscles noticeably.
4. Hydrate properly.
It helps the kidneys clear oxalates safely.
5. Avoid sudden diet changes.
Both increases and decreases can trigger symptoms.
6. Track which foods cause immediate flares.
For me it was potatoes, nut flours, and spinach.
When It Looks Like PD OFF — but Isn’t
Oxalate episodes often:
- don’t match your medication timing
- come with nerve burning or tingling
- improve with electrolytes, not with L-DOPA
- fluctuate rapidly during diet change periods
Understanding this distinction saved me from adjusting my medication unnecessarily.
When to Seek Medical Advice
Oxalates can affect kidneys, so watch for:
- severe side pain or flank pain
- blood in urine
- throwing up repeatedly
- signs of kidney stones
- sudden inability to control muscles
If anything feels severe, get checked immediately.
Final Thoughts: You’re Not Imagining It
Oxalates are not the cause of Parkinson’s — but they can absolutely amplify symptoms, especially:
- dyskinesia
- tremors
- nerve pain
- muscle twitching
- OFF-like periods
- fatigue
Understanding this connection has helped me regain more predictability in my daily life. And while this isn’t medical advice, I hope my experience gives you something to explore with your own healthcare team.
If you’re dealing with strange, inconsistent symptoms, don’t discount diet.
Sometimes the body is telling us something we haven’t learned to listen for yet.
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Even a small contribution helps me continue creating honest, practical, and research-based content for our Parkinson’s community.
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Thank you for being part of this journey with me.
A Note for Caregivers
If you’re caring for someone with Parkinson’s, please know this:
Many of the symptoms triggered or worsened by oxalates — twitching, burning sensations, internal tremors, sudden agitation, or unexplained OFF-like episodes — can be incredibly confusing even for the person experiencing them.
Oxalate-related flares don’t always match medication timing, which can make caregivers feel unsure about what’s happening or how to help.
Here are a few supportive reminders:
- Your observations matter. You often notice patterns we might miss.
- It’s okay if symptoms seem unpredictable. Oxalate dumping comes in waves.
- Staying calm helps us regulate. Episodes can feel overwhelming from the inside.
- Ask about recent foods, hydration, and electrolytes. These can influence symptoms more than you might expect.
Thank you for showing up, helping us through confusing days, and learning alongside us. Caregivers are an essential part of the Parkinson’s story — including mine.
Medical Disclaimer
I’m sharing my personal experiences with Parkinson’s, diet changes, oxalates, and thiamine because they have played a meaningful role in managing my symptoms. However, this blog is not medical advice, and I am not a medical professional.
Every person with Parkinson’s is different.
What affected me may not affect you the same way.
Before making any changes to your:
- diet
- supplements
- medications
- or treatment plan
Please consult with your neurologist, Parkinson’s specialist, or healthcare provider.
My goal is to share insights, patterns, and helpful information so you can have more informed conversations with your care team — not to replace professional guidance.
