Drug Name

Sinemet (Carbidopa/Levodopa)

Drug Uses

Sinemet is used for treating symptoms associated with Parkinson disease as well as parkinsonism-like symptoms caused by other conditions. It may as well as be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

How Taken

Take Sinemet as directed by your doctor.

• Take Sinemet by mouth on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating.
• Carefully follow the dosing schedule given to you by your health care provider. It may take several weeks to a few months to notice benefit from take because the dose is carefully adjusted over time.
• Incase you are as well as using iron salts (eg, ferrous sulfate), do not take them within 2 hours before or 2 hours after using Sinemet . Check with your doctor incase you possess questions.
• Take Sinemet on a normal schedule to get the most benefit from it. Using Sinemet at the alike times each day will help you to remember to take it.
• Continue to take Sinemet even incase you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
• Incase you possess been using levodopa, do not start using Sinemet until at least 12 hours after your final dose of levodopa.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may possess about how to take Sinemet.

Drug Class as well as Mechanism

Sinemet is an antidyskinetic combination. Levodopa is transformed by the body as well as the brain into a substance that helps to decrease tremors as well as other symptoms of Parkinson disease. Carbidopa helps levodopa to reach the brain.

Missed Dose

Incase you miss a dose of Sinemet, take it as soon as likely. Incase it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose as well as go back to your normal dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Storage

Store Sinemet at room temperature between 68 as well as 77 degrees F (20 as well as 25 degrees C) in a tightly closed container. Brief periods at temperatures of 59 to 86 degrees F (15 to 30 degrees C) are permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, as well as light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Sinemet out of the reach of children as well as away from pets.

Warnings/Precautions

Do not take Sinemet if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Sinemet;
• you possess narrow-angle glaucoma, undiagnosed skin growths, skin cancer, or a history of skin cancer;
• you possess used a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (eg, phenelzine) within the final 14 days.

Contact your doctor or health care provider fair away incase any of these apply to you.

Important :

• Sinemet may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or lightheadedness. These effects may be worse incase you take it with alcohol or confident medicines. Take Sinemet with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Do not drink alcohol or take medicines that may cause drowsiness (e.g., sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are using Sinemet; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist incase you possess questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.
• Sinemet may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To halt them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the earliest sign of any of these effects.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Sinemet before you receive any health examination or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a possibly fatal syndrome that can be caused by Sinemet . Symptoms may include fever; hard muscles; confusion; abnormal thinking; quick or irregular heartbeat; as well as sweating. Contact your doctor at once incase you possess any of these symptoms.
• Diabetes patients - Sinemet may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• Diabetes patients - Sinemet may cause the results of some tests for urine ketones to be incorrect. Ask your doctor before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• Do not suddenly halt using Sinemet . Some conditions may become worse when Sinemet is suddenly stopped. Your dose may need to be slowly lowered by your doctor to avoid side effects.
• Gradually increase material activity as your symptoms improve.
• A not light color (red, copper, or black) may appear in your saliva, urine, or sweat after using Sinemet. This is not harmful.
• The effects of Sinemet may start to wear off between doses. Talk with your doctor incase Sinemet stops working well or incase your condition worsens.
• Sinemet may affect confident lab test results. Make sure your doctors as well as lab personnel know you take Sinemet.
• Lab tests, including total blood cell counts as well as liver function tests, may be performed while you take Sinemet . These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor as well as lab appointments.
• Take Sinemet with caution in elderly patients; they may be more sensitive to its effects.
• Sinemet should not be used in children; safety as well as effectiveness possess not been confirmed.
• Pregnancy as well as breast-feeding: Incase you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits as well as risks of using Sinemet while pregnant. It is not known incase Sinemet is found in breast milk. Incase you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Sinemet, check with your doctor. Discuss any likely risks to your baby.

Likely Side Effects

Check with your doctor incase any of these most ordinary side effects persist or become bothersome:

• confusion; constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; moistureless mouth; headache; increased sweating; loss of appetite; nausea; taste changes; trouble sleeping; upset stomach; urinary tract infection; vomiting.

Seek health examination attention fair away incase any of these very bad side effects occur:

• very bad allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); not light, tarry stools; blood in vomit; chest pain; confusion; depression; quick or irregular heartbeat; fever; hallucinations; mental or mood changes; muscle pain or unusual stiffness; very bad abdominal pain; very bad lightheadedness or fainting; sore throat; thoughts of suicide; unexplained fever or sweating; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual or painful movements or spasms of the face, eyelids, mouth, tongue, arms, hands, or legs; vision changes (blurred/double vision); yellowing of the skin or eyes.

More Information

Sinemet is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
If your symptoms do not improve or incase they become worse, check with your doctor.