Sinemet

Generic name: Carbidopa And Levodopa
Drug class: Dopaminergic antiparkinsonism agents

Usage of Sinemet

Sinemet contains a combination of Carbidopa and levodopa.

Sinemet is used to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as muscle stiffness, tremors, spasms, and poor muscle control. Parkinson's disease may be caused by low levels of a chemical called dopamine (DOE pa meen) in the brain.

Sinemet is also used to treat Parkinson symptoms caused by carbon monoxide carbon monoxide poisoning or manganese intoxication.

Sinemet side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Sinemet: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

uncontrolled muscle movements in your face (chewing, lip smacking, frowning, tongue movement, blinking or eye movement);

worsening of tremors (uncontrolled shaking);

severe or ongoing vomiting or diarrhea;

confusion, hallucinations, unusual changes in mood or behavior;

depression or suicidal thoughts; or

severe nervous system reaction - very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out.

Some people taking Sinemet have fallen asleep during normal daytime activities such as working, talking, eating, or driving. Tell your doctor if you have any problems with daytime sleepiness or drowsiness.

You may have increased sexual urges, unusual urges to gamble, or other intense urges while taking this medicine. Talk with your doctor if this occurs.

You may notice that your sweat, urine, or saliva appears dark in color, such as red, brown, or black. This is not a harmful side effect, but it may cause staining of your clothes or bed sheets.

Common Sinemet side effects may include:

jerky or twisting muscle movements;

headache, dizziness;

low blood pressure (feeling light-headed);

sleep problems, strange dreams;

dry mouth;

muscle contractions; or

nausea, vomiting, constipation.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Sinemet

You should not use Sinemet if you are allergic to carbidopa or levodopa, or if you have:

narrow-angle glaucoma.

Do not use Sinemet if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, and others.

To make sure Sinemet is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

heart disease, high blood pressure, or heart attack;

liver or kidney disease;

an endocrine (hormonal) disorder;

asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or other breathing disorder;

a stomach or intestinal ulcer;

open-angle glaucoma; or

depression, mental illness, or psychosis.

People with Parkinson's disease may have a higher risk of skin cancer (melanoma). Talk to your doctor about this risk and what skin symptoms to watch for.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

The disintegrating tablet may contain phenylalanine. Tell your doctor if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).

Relate drugs

How to use Sinemet

Usual Adult Dose for Parkinson's Disease:

Optimum dosage is determined by careful individual titration: All doses expressed as CARBIDOPA-LEVODOPA Immediate-release tablets: Initial dose: 25 mg-100 mg orally three times a day or 10 mg-100 mg orally 3 or 4 times a day -Increase by 1 tablet every day or every other day as needed until a dose of 8 tablets is reached; may use a combination of tablets from both ratios (1:4 or 1:10) to provide the optimum dose. Conversion from LEVODOPA: -Levodopa should be discontinued at least 12 hours before starting carbidopa-levodopa; initiate with approximately 25% of the previous levodopa dose. -Suggested dose for patients receiving less than levodopa 1500 mg per day: 25 mg-100 mg orally 3 or 4 times a day. -Suggested dose for patients receiving more than levodopa 1500 mg per day: 25 mg-250 mg orally 3 or 4 times a day. Sustained-Release Tablets (Sinemet CR): -Initial dose (levodopa-naive): 50 mg-200 mg orally twice a day; initial dosage should be given at intervals of more than 6 hours -Dose and dosing interval may be increased or decreased at intervals of at least 3 days based on therapeutic response -Dose range: Most patients will require levodopa 400 to 1600 mg/day in divided doses every 4 to 8 hours during waking hours; doses of 2400 mg/day at intervals of less than 4 hours have been used, but are generally not recommended. Conversion from IMMEDIATE-RELEASE levodopa with or without a decarboxylase inhibitor: -For patients receiving levodopa with a decarboxylase inhibitor: Dosage with Sinemet CR should be approximately 10% higher than previous levodopa dosage; this may need to be increased to up to 30% higher depending on clinical response. -For patients receiving levodopa without a decarboxylase inhibitor: Dosage with sustained release should be approximately 25% of previous levodopa dosage; levodopa should be discontinued at least 12 hours before starting carbidopa-levodopa.

Warnings

You should not use Sinemet if you have narrow-angle glaucoma.

Do not use Sinemet if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine.

What other drugs will affect Sinemet

Other drugs may interact with Carbidopa and levodopa, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.