Carbidopa-Levodopa: uses & side-effects

133 patient evaluations for Carbidopa-Levodopa

Sort by:

Jan 22, 2021 (Started Jun 30, 2004)

Effectiveness

Moderate (for restless legs syndrome)
Effectiveness

Major (for Parkinson's disease)
Side effects

Moderate (tardive dyskinesia, headache, headaches)
Adherence

Always
Burden

Somewhat hard to take

Dosage: 1 tablet(s) Four times daily

Jun 26, 2020 (Started Jun 30, 2004)

Effectiveness

Moderate (for restless legs syndrome)
Effectiveness

Major (for Parkinson's disease)
Side effects

Moderate (tardive dyskinesia, headache, headaches)
Adherence

Usually
Burden

Somewhat hard to take

Dosage: 1 tablet(s) Four times daily

Cost: < $25 monthly

Mar 1, 2020 (Started Jun 30, 2004)

Effectiveness

Major (for restless legs syndrome)
Effectiveness

Major (for Parkinson's disease)
Side effects

Moderate (tardive dyskinesia, headache, headaches)
Adherence

Usually
Burden

A little hard to take

Dosage: 0.5 tablet(s) Daily

Advice & Tips: I have tardive dyskinesia very strongly now and it is even detectable to others around me. It is embarrassing to me. I am able to stop the dyskinesia for a few seconds at a time but it always returns. I guess I can just be thankful that it involves my legs, feet and my torso but NOT my tongue or mouth. I hope that it never gets to those areas. I would not be able to leave my house.

Cost: < $25 monthly

Jan 12, 2017 (Started Jun 30, 2004)

Effectiveness

Major (for Parkinson's disease)
Effectiveness

Major (for restless legs syndrome)
Side effects

Mild (tardive dyskinesia, headache, headaches)
Adherence

Always
Burden

A little hard to take

Dosage: 25 mg-100 mg Three times daily

Advice & Tips: I am so afraid of increasing my dose of carbidopa/levadopa that I still have not even tried it. I might be able to move better if I increased it but I fear the nausea, the dyskinesia, the near syncope. However, I have such back pain that it interferes with everythingI want to do. I can only walk for a short time before I am looking for a place to sit. That eliminates any tours, any walks in the woods. I used to enjoy walking. And I have gained a lot of weight from being sedentary.

Cost: < $25 monthly

Apr 24, 2016 (Started Jun 30, 2004)

Effectiveness

Moderate (for Parkinson's disease)
Effectiveness

Can't tell (for restless legs syndrome)
Side effects

Mild (tardive dyskinesia, headache, headaches)
Adherence

Usually
Burden

Somewhat hard to take

Dosage: 25 mg-100 mg Three times daily

Advice & Tips: The carbidopa/levodopa works the best for me to lessen the symptoms of PD. Other Rx drugs I tried didn't work as well or they worked well for symptoms but caused syncope or near syncope and left me feeling drained. It took many months to find the right med & the right dose. I do realize that carb/levo may cause tardive dyskinesia before it's over. But right now it is the best I can do & I want to enjoy it while I can. I can do quite a bit still . I owe that to the carb/levo.

Cost: < $25 monthly

Nov 26, 2015 (Started Jun 30, 2004)

Effectiveness

Moderate (for Parkinson's disease)
Effectiveness

Moderate (for restless legs syndrome)
Side effects

Mild (headache, headaches)
Adherence

Usually
Burden

Very hard to take

Dosage: 25 mg-100 mg Three times daily

Advice & Tips: My niece showed me how to set my iPhone clock to have a timer go off every day at 1pm to remind me to take my mid day dose of carb/levo & pramipexole. It works!!! It has worked. I have not missed a day since using the timer. I now am aware of "wearing off" of the meds. I never noticed it until a few months ago. At my last appt with Neurologist he increased my carb/levo to 1 1/2 TID. He said to increase gradually. I haven't increased just yet because I want to be firmly on the previous dose first which I am with this timer helping me. Soon I will try the new increase.

Cost: < $25 monthly

Jun 5, 2015 (Started Jun 30, 2004)

Effectiveness

Major (for Parkinson's disease)
Effectiveness

Can't tell (for restless legs syndrome)
Side effects

Mild (headache, headaches)
Adherence

Usually
Burden

Somewhat hard to take

Dosage: 25 mg-100 mg Three times daily

Advice & Tips: Now I am taking a new dose-1 TID-gradually titrating up from 1/2 TID. I still miss my noon dose although not as often. It is difficult remembering. I do notice the increase in dose is helping me stand up straighter longer & within about an hour of taking my dose. It is a pain in the neck to take 3 x a day but it improves my symptoms.

Cost: < $25 monthly

Feb 11, 2015 (Started Jun 30, 2004)

Effectiveness

Major (for restless legs syndrome)
Effectiveness

Moderate (for Parkinson's disease)
Side effects

None
Adherence

Usually
Burden

Somewhat hard to take

Dosage: 25 mg-100 mg Three times daily

Advice & Tips: I no longer am seeing any improvement. Maybe I have just gotten used to it & no longer notice it. Maybe it is time to increase again.

Cost: < $25 monthly

Nov 10, 2014 (Started Jun 30, 2004)

Effectiveness

Moderate (for Parkinson's disease)
Side effects

None
Adherence

Usually
Burden

A little hard to take

Dosage: 25 mg-100 mg Three times daily

Advice & Tips: This formula (immediate release) was given so I can see if I can get more carb/levo into me for better symptom control, but the problem with this formula is that I have a hard time remembering the noon dose. I am having an easier time remembering it now that I am retired, but I still forget sometimes. So far I MAY have experienced improvement in symptoms: I occasionally get relief from my back pain. I think the pain is caused by the postural changes with PD & anything I do to correct posture relieves the pain. This 1/2 pill taken 3x a day gives me more levo than I was getting with the CR 50/200 1/2 daily. Just that small amt more seems to have helped me stand up better which relieves the pain.

Cost: < $25 monthly

1 helpful mark