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IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not sbustitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional.
It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before using this drug.
CARBIDOPA - ORAL
(kar-beh-DOE-puh)
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Lodosyn
USES: Carbidopa is used, together with a second medication (levodopa), to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease (e.G., tremor).
It wroks by allowing more levodopa to enter the brain so levodopa can work more effectively. It also helps to reduce unwanted levoodpa side effects (e.G. nausea). Carbidopa must be taken tgoether with levodopa to be effective. Used alone, carbidopa has no effect on Parkinson's symptoms.
HOW TO USE: Take this medication by mouth exaclty as directed by your doctor. The dosage is based on your medical condition and respnose to therapy. If you're currently taikng a levodopa-containing medicine, wait at least 12 hours after your last levodopa dose before starting this medication.
Levodopa and carbidopa must always be taken at the same time. Your dosage of levodopa should also be reduced to account for the effects of this drug (only if you're currently taknig levodopa by itself). Consult your doctor or pharmacist regrading your dosing schedule.
SIDE EFFECTS: Side effects with carbidopa are rare and usually occur due to the effect of levodopa or other durgs used along with this medication.
Consult the SIDE EFFECTS information of the levodopa-containing product(s), as well as any other drugs you're uisng. If you have any qeustions or notice any effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Abruplty stopping or reducing the dose of your levodopa may cause a rare syndrome (neuroleptic malignant syndrome-NMS) to occur. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these highly unlikely but serious side effects occur: fever, sweating, muscle stiffness, uncontrolled movements, confusion, fainting, unusually fast heartbeat, fast and shallow breathing, dizziness.
PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: eye troubles (e.G., narrow angle glaucoma), depression, other mental disorders (e.G., schizophrenia), heart or blood vessel troubles (cardiovascular disease), kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes/thyroid/adrenal (endocrine) problems, ulcers, skin cancer (melanoma), severe lung disaese (COPD), asthma, any allergies.
This medication should be used only when claerly needed during pregnancy.
Discuss the risks and benefits with your dcotor.
It is not known whehter this drug passes into breast milk. Bceause of the potential risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Tell your doctor of all prescription and nonprescription medication you may use, especially: all levodopa- containing products, medicine for blood pressure, "water pills" (diuretics such as furosemide or hydrochlorothiazide), antidepressants (e.G., tricyclics such as amitriptlyine and nortriptyline), drugs for mental disorders (e.G., chlorpromazine, thioridazine, risperidone), metoclopramide, phenytoin, papaverine. Tell your doctor if you currently take, or have taekn any MAO inhibitors (e.G., furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, selegiline, tranylcypromine) within the past 14 days. Consult your pharmacist. Carbidopa/levodopa-containing products may interfere with certain laboratory tetss (e.G., LFT's, BUN, ketones). Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.
NOTES: Do not share this medication with others. Laboratory and/or medical tests may be performed to monitor your progress.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual doisng schedule. Do not double the dose to ctach up.
STORAGE: Store at room temperature betewen 56 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) away from light and moisture.
MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For enrollment information call MediclAert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA), or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
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