PatientsLikeMe ™

Back to Treatment Report

What is carbidopa-levodopa?

Levodopa is converted to a chemical called dopamine (DOE pa meen) in the brain. Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease may be caused by low levels dopamine in the brain. Levodopa is turned into dopamine in the body.

Carbidopa helps prevent the breakdown of levodopa before it can reach the brain and take effect.

The combination of carbidopa and levodopa is used to treat Parkinson symptoms such as muscle stiffness, tremors, spasms, and poor muscle control.

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

Carbidopa and levodopa may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Precautions

Instructions

Side-effects

Interactions

Precautions

Do not take carbidopa and levodopa if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take carbidopa and levodopa before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.

Do not take this medication if you are allergic to carbidopa (Lodosyn) or levodopa (Larodopa), or if you have:

• narrow-angle glaucoma;
• unusual skin lesions that have not been checked by a doctor; or
• a history of malignant melanoma (skin cancer).

Before taking carbidopa and levodopa, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• heart disease, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, a heart rhythm disorder, or a prior heart attack;
• asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or other breathing disorder;
• liver disease;
• kidney disease;
• an endocrine (hormonal) disease;
• a stomach or intestinal ulcer;
• wide-angle glaucoma; or
• depression or other mental illness.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take carbidopa and levodopa.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

The disintegrating tablet (such as Parcopa) may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using this form of carbidopa and levodopa if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).

Avoid taking iron supplements or eating a diet that is high in protein (protein sources include meat, eggs, and cheese). These things can make it harder for your body to digest and absorb carbidopa and levodopa. Talk with your doctor or nutrition counselor about the best foods to eat while you are taking this medication.

Carbidopa and levodopa can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Back to top

Instructions

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include uneven heart rate, muscle spasms, and severe nausea or vomiting.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Back to top

Side-effects

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.

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

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck;
• worsening of tremors (uncontrolled shaking);
• fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast heart rate, rapid breathing;
• seizure (convulsions);
• severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
• uneven heart rate or fluttering in your chest;
• confusion, agitation, unusual thoughts or behavior; or
• depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself.

Less serious side effects may include:

• nausea, loss of appetite;
• diarrhea, constipation, upset stomach;
• headache, dizziness, drowsiness;
• nightmares, increased dreaming;
• numbness or tingly feeling;
• muscle pain; or
• skin rash or itching.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

Back to top

Interactions

Before taking carbidopa and levodopa, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• metoclopramide (Reglan);
• isoniazid (Nydrazid);
• phenytoin (Dilantin);
• papaverine (Pavabid, Papacon, Pavagen, Pavacot);
• blood pressure medication;
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), amoxapine (Ascendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), or trimipramine (Surmontil); or
• phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), mesoridazine (Serentil), perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine), thioridazine (Mellaril), or trifluperazine (Stelazine).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with carbidopa and levodopa. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Back to top

Disclaimer