LEVODOPA

Brand & Generic Names

Dopar

Larodopa

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? Yes
• Drug class: Antiparkinsonism

Uses

Controls Parkinson's disease symptoms such as rigidity, tremor and unsteady gait.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet or capsule--Swallow with liquid or food to lessen stomach irritation. If you can't swallow whole, crumble tablet or open capsule and take with liquid or food.

When to take:
At the same times each day.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).

What drug does:
Restores chemical balance necessary for normal nerve impulses.

Time lapse before drug works:
2 to 3 weeks to improve; 6 weeks or longer for maximum benefit.

Don't take with:
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Muscle twitch, spastic eyelid closure, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular and rapid pulse, weakness, fainting, confusion, agitation, hallucination, coma.

WHAT TO DO:

• Dial 911 (emergency) or O (operator) for an ambulance or medical help. Then give first aid immediately.
• If patient is unconscious and not breathing, give mouth-to- mouth breathing. If there is no heartbeat, use cardiac massage and mouth-to-mouth breathing (CPR). Don't try to make patient vomit. If you can't get help quickly, take patient to nearest emergency facility.
• See EMERGENCY Information.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

In case of overdose, see Overdose section.

Common:

• Mood change, diarrhea, depression, anxiety.
• Dry mouth, body odor.
• Uncontrollable body movements.

Infrequent:

• Fainting, severe dizziness, headache, insomnia, nightmares, itchy skin, rash, nausea, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, eyelid spasm.
• Flushed face, muscle twitching, discolored or dark urine, difficult urination, blurred vision, appetite loss.
• Constipation, tiredness.

Rare:

• High blood pressure.
• Upper abdominal pain, anemia, increased sex drive.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You are allergic to levodopa or carbidopa.
• You have taken MAO inhibitors in past 2 weeks.
• You have glaucoma (narrow-angle type).

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have diabetes or epilepsy.
• If you have had high blood pressure, heart or lung disease.
• If you have had liver or kidney disease.
• If you have a peptic ulcer.
• If you have malignant melanoma.
• If you will have surgery within 2 months, including dental surgery, requiring general or spinal anesthesia.

Over age 60:
Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons.

Pregnancy:
Risk to unborn child outweighs drug benefits. Don't use.

Breast-feeding:
Drug filters into milk. May harm child. Avoid.

Infants & children:
Not recommended.

Prolonged use:

• May lead to uncontrolled movements of head, face, mouth, tongue, arms or legs.
• Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check complete blood counts (white blood cell count, platelet count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit), kidney function, liver function.

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
Don't drive or pilot aircraft until you learn how medicine affects you. Don't work around dangerous machinery. Don't climb ladders or work in high places. Danger increases if you drink alcohol or take medicine affecting alertness and reflexes, such as antihistamines, tranquilizers, sedatives, pain medicine, narcotics and mind-altering drugs.

Discontinuing:
Don't discontinue without doctor's advice until you complete prescribed dose, even though symptoms diminish or disappear.

Others:
Expect to start with small dose and increase gradually to lessen frequency and severity of adverse reactions.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Albuterol	Increased risk of heartbeat
	irregularity.
Antidepressants,	Decreased blood pressure.
tricyclic (TCA)*	Weakness and faintness when
	arising from bed or chair.
Anticonvulsants*	Decreased levodopa effect.
Antihypertensives*	Decreased blood pressure and
	levodopa effect.
Antiparkinsonism	Increased levodopa
drugs, other*	effect.
Guanfacine	Increased effects of both drugs.
Haloperidol	Decreased levodopa effect.
MAO inhibitors*	Dangerous rise in blood pressure.
Methyldopa	Decreased levodopa effect.
Molindone	Decreased levodopa effect.
Papaverine	Decreased levodopa effect.
Phenothiazines*	Decreased levodopa effect.
Phenytoin	Decreased levodopa effect.
Pyridoxine	Decreased levodopa
(Vitamin B-6)	effect.
Rauwolfia	Decreased levodopa
alkaloids*	effect.
Selegiline	May require reduced dosage of
	levodopa.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	None expected.
Beverages:	None expected.
Cocaine:	Increased risk of heartbeat
	irregularity.
High-protein diet.	Decreased levodopa effect.
Marijuana:	Increased fatigue, lethargy,
	fainting.
Tobacco:	None expected.