Levodopa (Systemic)
Brand Names : Atamet, Larodopa, Sinemet, Sinemet CR, Apo-Levocarb, Nu-Levocarb, Carbidopa and Levodopa, Levodopa
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For levodopa and for
carbidopa and levodopa combination, the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to levodopa alone or in combination with carbidopa. Also
tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances,
such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Diet - Since protein may interfere with the body's
response to levodopa, high protein diets should be avoided. Intake of normal
amounts of protein should be spaced equally throughout the day, or taken as
directed by your doctor. For patients taking levodopa by itself:
-
Pyridoxine (vitamin B 6
) has been found
to reduce the effects of levodopa when levodopa is taken by itself. This does
not happen with the combination of carbidopa and levodopa. If you are taking levodopa by itself, do not take vitamin products containing
vitamin B 6
during treatment, unless prescribed
by your doctor
.
-
Large amounts of pyridoxine are also contained in some foods such
as bananas, egg yolks, lima beans, meats, peanuts, and whole grain cereals.
Check with your doctor about how much of these foods you may have in your
diet while you are taking levodopa. Also, ask your health care professional
for help when selecting vitamin products.
Pregnancy - Studies have not been done in pregnant women. However,
studies in animals have shown that levodopa affects the baby's growth both
before and after birth if given during pregnancy in doses many times the human
dose.
Breast-feeding - Levodopa, alone and in carbidopa and levodopa combination,
passes into breast milk and may cause unwanted side effects in the nursing
baby. Also, levodopa may reduce the flow of breast milk.
Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult
patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of levodopa or
carbidopa in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults - Elderly people are especially sensitive to the effects
of levodopa. This may increase the chance of side effects during treatment.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking
levodopa or carbidopa and levodopa combination, it is especially important
that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:
-
Cocaine - Cocaine use by individuals taking levodopa, alone or
in combination with carbidopa, may cause an irregular heartbeat
-
Haloperidol (e.g., Haldol) or
-
Phenothiazines (acetophenazine [e.g., Tindal], chlorpromazine [e.g.,
Thorazine], fluphenazine [e.g., Prolixin], mesoridazine [e.g., Serentil],
perphenazine [e.g., Trilafon], prochlorperazine [e.g., Compazine], promazine
[e.g., Sparine], promethazine [e.g., Phenergan], thioridazine [e.g., Mellaril],
trifluoperazine [e.g., Stelazine], triflupromazine [e.g., Vesprin], trimeprazine
[e.g., Temaril]) or
-
Thioxanthenes (chlorprothixene [e.g., Taractan], thiothixene [e.g.,
Navane]) - Taking these medicines with levodopa may lessen the effects
of levodopa
-
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor activity (isocarboxazid [e.g.,
Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e.g., Matulane], selegiline
[e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate]) - Taking levodopa while
you are taking or within 2 weeks of taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors
may cause sudden extremely high blood pressure; at least 14 days should be
allowed between stopping treatment with one medicine and starting treatment
with the other medicine
-
Pyridoxine (vitamin B 6
[e.g., Hexa-Betalin]),
present in some foods and vitamin formulas (for levodopa used alone) - Pyridoxine
reverses the effects of levodopa
-
Selegiline - Dosage of levodopa or carbidopa and levodopa combination
may need to be decreased
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of levodopa. Make sure you tell your doctor if
you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) - The amount of insulin or
antidiabetic medicine that you need to take may change
-
Emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, or other chronic lung disease or
-
Glaucoma or
-
Heart or blood vessel disease or
-
Hormone problems or
-
Melanoma (a type of skin cancer) (or history of) or
-
Mental illness - Levodopa may make the condition worse
-
Kidney disease or
-
Liver disease - Higher blood levels of levodopa may occur, increasing
the chance of side effects
-
Seizure disorders, such as epilepsy (history of) - The risk of
seizures may be increased
-
Stomach ulcer (history of) - The ulcer may occur again
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