Product Information / Press Release

Active Ingredient:

Carbidopa and levodopa

Type of Drug:

Antiparkinson agent.

Uses:

To treat parkinsonism which may develop spontaneously or follow injury to the nervous system. Carbidopa and levodopa has no antiparkinsonism effect when given alone. It is only for use with levodopa.

Drug Interactions:

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or if you are planning to take any over-the-counter or prescription medications with carbidopa and levodopa. Doses of one or both drugs may need to be changed or a different drug may need to be prescribed. The following drugs and drug classes interact with carbidopa and levodopa.

• antacids
• anticholinergics (eg, belladonna)
• benzodiazepines (eg, diazepam)
• butyrophenones
• haloperidol (Haldol)
• hydantoins (eg, phenytoin)
• isocarboxazid (Marplan)
• methionine (eg, Uracid)
• metoclopramide (eg, Reglan)
• papaverine (eg, Pavabid)
• pargyline (Eutonyl)
• phenelzine (Nardil)
• phenothiazines (eg, promethazine)
• pyridoxine (vitamin B6)
• tranylcypromine (Parnate)
• tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline)

Side Effects:

Every drug can cause side effects, but most people have no, or minor, side effects. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following occurs:

Digestive Tract: Nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; constipation; gas; appetite loss; abdominal pain and distress.

Nervous System: Uncontrolled movement (twitching) of face, eyelids, mouth, hands or legs; abnormally slow movement; mood swings; mental changes; anxiety; fatigue; euphoria (exaggerated sense of well being); delusions; hallucinations; abnormal dreams; confusion; weakness; agitation; nervousness; dizziness; fainting; orthostatic hypotension (dizziness or lightheadedness when rising quickly from a sitting or lying position); headache; depression; hand tremor; incoordination; sleeplessness.

Circulatory System: Palpitations (pounding in the chest); irregular heartbeat; chest pain.

Skin: Flushing; rash; increased sweating.

Precautions:

Do not use in the following situations:

• allergy to Carbidopa and levodopa
• glaucoma, narrow-angle
• monoamine oxidase inhibitor (eg, phenelzine) drug therapy
• possible skin cancer (melanoma)

How The Drug Works:

Parkinsonism is a neurological disease with a variety of origins characterized by tremor, rigidity and disorders of posture and balance.

The onset is slow and progressive with symptoms advancing over months to years. There is no cure for the disease. The goal of therapy is to provide relief from the symptoms, and to attempt to maintain the independence and mobility of the patient.

It is thought that the involuntary muscle movements (shaking) of Parkinson's disease are due to reduced amounts of dopamine in the nervous system. Levodopa is transformed by the body into dopamine. Carbidopa prevents levodopa from being broken down.