CARBIDOPA

(kar bi DOE pa) Brand: Lodosyn

What is the most significant information I must know about carbidopa?

• Carbidopa is only used in combination with levodopa. It has no effect if it is used on its own.

• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing another hazardous activities. Carbidopa may reason dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.

What is carbidopa?

• Carbidopa is used with levodopa to treat Parkinson's malady. Parkinson's malady is believed to be related to low levels of a chemical called dopamine (DOE pa meen) in the brain. Levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa) is turned into dopamine in the body. Carbidopa is used with levodopa to prevent the breakdown (metabolism) of levodopa till it can reach the brain and take effect. Carbidopa is only effective if it is taken with levodopa. It has no effect if it is used alone.

• Carbidopa is used with levodopa to treat the stiffness, tremors, spasms, and poor muscle control of Parkinson's malady. These medications are also used to treat the same muscular conditions when they are caused by drugs such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), perphenazine (Trilafon), and others.

• Carbidopa may also be used for purposes another than those listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking carbidopa?

• Do not take this medicine without first talking to your doctor if you have

· taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the past 2 weeks;

· narrow-angle glaucoma (angle closure glaucoma); or

· malignant melanoma (a type of skin cancer).

• Till taking this medicine, speak your doctor if you have

· heart malady, tall blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, a previous heart onslaught, or an irregular heartbeat;

· respiratory malady, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary malady (COPD);

· liver disease;

· kidney disease;

· an endocrine (hormonal) disease;

· a stomach or intestinal ulcer;

· wide-angle glaucoma; or

· depression or any another psychiatric disorder.

• You may need a dosage adjustment or particular monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

• It is not known whether carbidopa will be deleterious to an unborn child. Do not take carbidopa without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

• It is also not known whether carbidopa will be deleterious to a nursing infant. Do not take carbidopa without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How must I take carbidopa?

• Take carbidopa exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

• Take every doze with a full glass of water.

• Carbidopa should be taken with levodopa to have an effect.

• It is significant to take carbidopa regularly to get the most benefit.

• Your doctor may want you to have blood trials or another medical evaluations during treatment with carbidopa to monitor progress and side effects.

• Store carbidopa at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for the following doze, skip the missed doze and only take the following regularly scheduled doze. Do not take a double doze of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention if an overdose is suspected.

• Symptoms of a carbidopa overdose include muscle spasms or weakness, spasms of the eyelid, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, an irregular heartbeat, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, and unconsciousness.

What must I avoid while taking carbidopa?

What are the possible side effects of carbidopa?

• Carbidopa alone is not associated with side effects. The next side effects are usually associated with carbidopa and levodopa therapy.

• If you experience any of the next serious side effects, stop taking carbidopa and levodopa and search abnormal medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or person; or hives);

· uncontrolled movements of a part of the body;

· seizures;

· persistent nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;

· an irregular heartbeat or fluttering in your chest;

· unusual changes in mood or behavior; or

· depression or suicidal thoughts.

• Another, smaller serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take carbidopa and levodopa and conversation to your doctor if you experience

· mild nausea, vomiting, or decreased appetite;

· constipation, dry mouth, or blurred vision;

· arm tremor;

· muscle twitches;

· dizziness or drowsiness;

· insomnia, confusion, or nightmares;

· agitation or anxiety;

· darkening of urine or sweat; or

· fatigue.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect carbidopa?

• Do not take carbidopa and levodopa if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the past 14 days.

• Antacids may magnify the effectiveness of carbidopa and levodopa and lead to side effects. Ask your doctor about the use of antacids.

• Till taking carbidopa, speak your doctor if you are taking any of the next medicines:

· a medication to treat tall blood pressure (hypertension);

· a medication used to treat seizures, such as phenytoin (Dilantin), ethotoin (Peganone), or mephenytoin (Mesantoin);

· papaverine (Pavabid, Cerespan, others);

· pyridoxine or vitamin B6;

· an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), desipramine (Norpramin), and amoxapine (Asendin); or

· a medication used to treat a psychiatric condition (or nausea and vomiting), such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), mesoridazine (Serentil), thioridazine (Mellaril), trifluoperazine (Stelazine), and haloperidol (Haldol).

• You may not be able to take carbidopa, or you may require a dosage adjustment or particular monitoring if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

• Levodopa may interfere with urine trials for sugar and ketones. If you have diabetes and announcement changes in urine test results, conversation to your doctor till making any changes in your diabetes medication.

• Drugs another than those listed here may also interact with carbidopa. Conversation to your doctor and pharmacist till taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about carbidopa.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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