Question 1

please describe the medication: sinemet (carbidopa and levodopa)?

Accepted Answer

L-DOPA: Sinemet (carbidopa and levodopa) is a brand combination of l-dopa, the precursor of dopamine, and carbidopa, used to prolong the plasma level for extended efficacy.  It is indicated to treat parkinson's disease, but has also some success in lewy body dementias, and even in other tremors. Of value in parkinson's for about 5-7 yrs, but may lose benefit beyond that point.  Used second-line to delay dyskinesia complications.

Question 2

milligrams for 6 hour sinemet (carbidopa and levodopa)? what is the dosage for this medication?

Accepted Answer

Dosages : Dosages are adjusted for the specific needs of each patient - there is no standard dose for any specific time period.  Sinemet (carbidopa and levodopa) comes in carbadopa-levodopa doses of 10-100, 25-250, and 25-100.  These can be combined and given at various times throughout the day to best relieve the symptoms of parkinson's disease.  If you are not sure of your dose or the dose of someone you are caring for, you need to call the doctor that prescribed the medication to clarify.  Good luck!

Question 3

im a parkinsons patient for 17 years. first time now, im getting dizzy, and hot feeling in my face body after my first levodopa dose in the morning. may be this a nms symptom? i think it happens when i got the pick of medication in my body?

Accepted Answer

: You may be experiencing a drop in your blood pressure when standing (orthostatic hypotension), which should be directly assessed in your doctor's office.  Sounds like you have been doing very well for years.  Covering the basics should allow ongoing stability.

Question 4

how does the drug carbidopa affect levodopa?

Accepted Answer

Blocks breakdown: Carbidopa acts to block the enzyme  aromatic-l-amino-acid decarboxylase which converts l-dopa to dopamine. Since it cannot get into the brain it works in the rest of the body (periphery). When given in combination with l-dopa in parkinson's disease, it inhibits the conversion of l-dopa to Dopamine in the body so that more is available to be converted in the brain where it is needed.

Question 5

why levodopa not used in drug induced parkinsonism?

Accepted Answer

Levodopa: Because it elevates Dopamine in the brain, & that  can exacerbate the original symptoms to begin with, ex. Psychosis.

Question 6

levodopa is ineffective in drug induced parkinsonism, why?

Accepted Answer

Stop the drug.: Levo dopa is ineffective because it is not true parkinson's disease-it shares some features but not all.  The treatment is to stop the drug that is causing the problem and symptoms will improve dramatically.

Question 7

what is the difference between parkinson's drug sinemet and stalevo (carbidopa and levodopa and entacapone)?

Accepted Answer

COMT inhibitor: Entacaptone is a selective catecholamine-o methyl transferase (comt) inhibitor that increases the bioavailabilty of dopamine. Like Carbidopa in sinemet it does not cross the blood brain barrier. Stalevo (carbidopa and levodopa and entacapone) is a combination of l dopa, Carbidopa and entacaptone. Sinemet is a combination of Carbidopa and l-dopa.

Question 8

my mom, safia, 60 years old, resident of pakistan has drug induced parkinsonism, which is bothering a lot & worsening. sinemet (carbidopa and levodopa) 25/250 every 4.5 hours?

Accepted Answer

Tachyphylaxis.: Dosing of Sinemet (carbidopa and levodopa) is a little strange, requiring front loading in the day and a long gap at night without dosing.  If taken like most other medications, on a more regular dosing interval, tachyphylaxis develops, which essentially means the efficacy of the medication reduces.

Question 9

is it safe to take clonazepam for sleep with sinemet (carbidopa and levodopa) for parkinsons patient? are there any drug interactions?

Accepted Answer

Probably safe...: ...but not especially the best choice! Although medications in that class (benzodiazepines) allay anxiety and can relax muscle spasm, they also interfere with normal sleep architecture and increase the risk of falling. I would certainly advise that you discuss this with your neurologist or a psychiatrist trained in sleep disorders or with additional training in geropsychiatry.

Question 10

why are patients monitored for choreiform movements on levodopa?

Accepted Answer

Dyskinesia: People who take dopamine agonists such as levodopa may develop involuntary movements called dyskinesias.  They may be an effect of the medicine, especially too much medicine, and sometimes these movement can significantly reduce capabilities and quality of life.  Since the goal of using the medicine is to increase quality of life, this can result in reducing or discontinuing the medicine.

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Doctor answers about:

Levodopa medication

A member asked:

Please describe the medication: sinemet (carbidopa and levodopa)?

A member asked:

Milligrams for 6 hour sinemet (carbidopa and levodopa)? what is the dosage for this medication?

A member asked:

Im a parkinsons patient for 17 years. first time now, im getting dizzy, and hot feeling in my face body after my first levodopa dose in the morning. may be this a nms symptom? i think it happens when i got the pick of medication in my body?

A member asked:

How does the drug carbidopa affect levodopa?

A member asked:

Why levodopa not used in drug induced parkinsonism?

A member asked:

Levodopa is ineffective in drug induced parkinsonism, why?

A member asked:

What is the difference between parkinson's drug sinemet and stalevo (carbidopa and levodopa and entacapone)?

A member asked:

My mom, safia, 60 years old, resident of pakistan has drug induced parkinsonism, which is bothering a lot & worsening. sinemet (carbidopa and levodopa) 25/250 every 4.5 hours?

A member asked:

Is it safe to take clonazepam for sleep with sinemet (carbidopa and levodopa) for parkinsons patient? are there any drug interactions?

A member asked:

Why are patients monitored for choreiform movements on levodopa?

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