133 patient evaluations for Carbidopa-Levodopa
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Dec 30, 2009 (Started )
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EffectivenessMajor (for Parkinson's disease)
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Side effectsMild
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenA little hard to take
Advice & Tips:
When taken alone, one dose lasts about an hour or so. When taken with Comtan, "ON" period is extended up to 2 - 2.5 hours. Needs to be taken on empty stomach. Proteins, fats, or a full stomach (even a moderately full feeling) disrupts effectiveness. Rate if absorption is decreased with presence of food in stomach or "ON" period is prevented altogether. Usually takes 40-50 minutes for a dose to kick in. Can be speeded up by disolving tablet in water first or by taking with a cola beverage. Unexpected benefits are when I am "ON", others have a hard time keeping up with me.
- 7 helpful marks
Jun 16, 2006 (Started Jun 09, 2006)
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EffectivenessMajor (for Other)
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Side effectsSevere (emotional lability, nausea, skin rash, whole body pain)
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenVery hard to take
Dosage:
10 mg-100 mg
Daily
Side effects:
whole body pain, emotional lability, skin rash, nausea, nausea
- 2 helpful marks
Mar 16, 2010 (Started Jul 06, 2004)
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EffectivenessMajor (for tremor in hands)
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Side effectsMild
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenNot at all hard to take
Dosage:
3 x 25 mg-100 mg
Daily
Advice & Tips:
This drug, along with Mirapex, has controlled the tremor in my hands....get a bit of tremor rarely when really cold or on down times of meds. Dr. just changed me to extended release med due to some "twitching" i have been getting which he thinks may be related to too much of med. I was taking 2 (25/100) pills 4x daily. Now with extended release, which is 50/200, i will take 1 3x day. Will see if this helps.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Jun 7, 2009 (Started Jul 06, 2004)
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EffectivenessMajor (for tremor in hands)
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Side effectsNone
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenNot at all hard to take
Dosage:
3 x 25 mg-100 mg
Daily
Advice & Tips:
taking generic of sinemet and using insurance is much less costly. this med was increased about 6 mos. ago due to slight increase in tremor and start of tremor in other hand. This med along with Mirapex controls my tremors .... off times are early mornings when first arising.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
- 2 helpful marks
Aug 25, 2009 (Started Sep 30, 2009)
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EffectivenessMajor (for Parkinson's disease)
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Side effectsModerate (sleepiness, sleep problems)
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenSomewhat hard to take
Advice & Tips:
Try to close my eyes for at least 10 - 15 mins when I feel sleepy.
Cost:
$50-99 monthly
Side effects:
sleepiness, sleep problems
- 1 helpful mark
Jan 15, 2006 (Started )
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EffectivenessModerate (for balance problems)
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Side effectsModerate
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenSomewhat hard to take
Advice & Tips:
Prescribed Carbidopa/Levadopa CR to spread absorption over more time. This reduced the dyskinesia and later I was able to tolerate 50-200 mgm, 1/2 tab., 5 times daily. Walking and balance have improved on this regimen. It is hard to keep up with this schedule but it helps me.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Side effects:
jerky movements
- 1 helpful mark
Aug 11, 2008 (Started Aug 11, 2008)
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EffectivenessSlight (for Parkinson's disease)
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Side effectsMild (dizziness, lightheadedness from upper back into head)
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenNot at all hard to take
Dosage:
25 mg-100 mg
Daily
Advice & Tips:
It has taken time, but I am beginning to notice when it is time to take my meds. I begin to feel tired and over all rotten.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Side effects:
dizziness, lightheadedness from upper back into head
- 1 helpful mark
Sep 22, 2010 (Started Sep 02, 2007)
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EffectivenessModerate (for slurred speech & walking like a drunk)
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EffectivenessMajor (for Parkinson's disease)
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Side effectsModerate (nervous energy, toe curling)
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AdherenceUsually
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BurdenSomewhat hard to take
Dosage:
5 g
Daily
Advice & Tips:
We have tried to take this time release sinament as one pill, one and half pill and one and one fourth pill.
My energy level was definately effected by the amount I took. One and one fourth is best. Too muchmade me nervous and upset, too little made me lethargic.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Side effects:
nervous energy, toe curling
Jan 6, 2010 (Started Sep 02, 2007)
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EffectivenessSlight (for slurred speech & walking like a drunk)
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EffectivenessSlight (for Parkinson's disease)
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Side effectsMild
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AdherenceUsually
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BurdenNot at all hard to take
Dosage:
25 mg
Daily
Advice & Tips:
Be sure to check all drugs, even those not Parkinon's
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Side effects:
nervous energy, toe curling
- 1 helpful mark
Nov 13, 2010 (Started Dec 01, 2009)
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EffectivenessMajor (for Parkinson's disease)
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EffectivenessMajor (for stiffness/spasticity)
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EffectivenessMajor (for slow movement (bradykinesia))
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Side effectsNone
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenNot at all hard to take
Dosage:
4 x 25 mg-100 mg
Daily
Advice & Tips:
Have used some form of LDOPA since day one in 2000. Have used it in the following forms:
1. SINEMET 25/100 up too 8x daily
2. SINEMET CR 50/20 up to 6X daily
3. Generic LDOPA 25/100 *DR Jill changed this order to brand name only
4. Generic LDOPA CR 50/200 *DR Jill changed this order to brand name only
5. Neupro (Patch) I did very well on the patch and then they pulled it off the market.
6. PARCOPA 25/100
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Aug 1, 2010 (Started Dec 01, 2009)
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EffectivenessMajor (for Parkinson's disease)
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EffectivenessMajor (for stiffness/spasticity)
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EffectivenessMajor (for slow movement (bradykinesia))
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Side effectsNone
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AdherenceAlways
-
BurdenNot at all hard to take
Dosage:
4 x 25 mg-100 mg
Daily
Cost:
< $25 monthly
- 1 helpful mark
Jan 22, 2012 (Started Oct 21, 2009)
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EffectivenessMajor (for Parkinson's disease)
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Side effectsModerate (insomnia, compulsive behavior, drowsiness, sleep problems, increased insomnia)
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenNot at all hard to take
Dosage:
4 x 25 mg-100 mg
Daily
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Side effects:
sleep problems, insomnia, compulsive behavior, drowsiness, increased insomnia
Dec 20, 2010 (Started Oct 21, 2009)
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EffectivenessMajor (for Parkinson's disease)
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Side effectsModerate (insomnia, compulsive behavior, drowsiness, sleep problems, increased insomnia)
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenVery hard to take
Dosage:
4 x 25 mg-100 mg
Daily
Advice & Tips:
Thus far, I have had done of the Dyskinesia that I feared. However I have read that it takes up to 4 years to get these uncontrollable body ticks.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Side effects:
sleep problems, insomnia, compulsive behavior, drowsiness, increased insomnia
Mar 3, 2010 (Started Oct 21, 2009)
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EffectivenessMajor (for Parkinson's disease)
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Side effectsModerate (insomnia, drowsiness, increased insomnia)
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenA little hard to take
Dosage:
3 x 25 mg-100 mg
Daily
Advice & Tips:
It is like a night and day improvement. I wish that I had started on it earlier. Many of my symptoms have beem minimized.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Side effects:
sleep problems, insomnia, compulsive behavior, drowsiness, increased insomnia
Feb 4, 2010 (Started Oct 21, 2009)
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EffectivenessMajor (for Parkinson's disease)
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Side effectsMild (insomnia, drowsiness, increased insomnia)
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenNot at all hard to take
Dosage:
3 x 25 mg-100 mg
Daily
Advice & Tips:
Since beginning Sinemet in 10-09 I can tell a great improvement. When I was only on Mirapex and Azilect, I have many PD symptoms that were not under control. The medicine would only work for about 3 months and then the symptoms yould return. Now that I am on Sinemet, it is like a day and night improvement. The sinemet has almost made the symptoms disappear; something that the Mirapex and Azilect did not do.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Side effects:
sleep problems, insomnia, compulsive behavior, drowsiness, increased insomnia
Nov 14, 2009 (Started Oct 21, 2009)
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EffectivenessMajor (for Parkinson's disease)
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Side effectsMild (insomnia, drowsiness)
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenA little hard to take
Dosage:
3 x 25 mg-100 mg
Daily
Advice & Tips:
I started taking Sinemet kickingi and dragging. I had been on Azilect andn Mirapex for over 18 months. My PD symptoms were increasing: the arm tremors were increasing, walking was turning back into shuffling, I felt confused, etc. I have been on Sinemet for about 3 weeks and I must admit that I haven't felt this good in years. I am talking better, less mumbling, I am actually moving more quickly.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Side effects:
sleep problems, insomnia, compulsive behavior, drowsiness, increased insomnia
- 1 helpful mark
May 15, 2012 (Started Nov 23, 2010)
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EffectivenessModerate (for Parkinson's disease)
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Side effectsMild (nausea)
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AdherenceUsually
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BurdenA little hard to take
Dosage:
4.5 x 25 mg-100 mg
Daily
Advice & Tips:
I've tried it with food and without food; nothing much helps. It usually happens with the morning dose; often I end up going back to bed for a few hours, losing the morning entirely.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
- 1 helpful mark
Last updated:
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