Sinemet vs. Rytary

• Are Sinemet and Rytary the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Sinemet? (Side effects)
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Rytary? (Side effects)
• What Is Sinemet? (Uses)
• What Is Rytary? (Uses)
• What Drugs Interact with Sinemet? (Interactions)
• What Drugs Interact with Rytary? (Interactions)
• How Should Sinemet Be Taken? (Dosage)
• How Should Rytary Be Taken? (Dosage)

Sinemet (carbidopa-levodopa) and Rytary (carbidopa and levodopa) are combinations of an inhibitor of aromatic amino acid decarboxylation and an aromatic amino acid used to treat Parkinson symptoms such as muscle stiffness, tremors, spasms, and poor muscle control. Sinemet and Rytary are also used to treat Parkinson symptoms caused by carbon monoxide poisoning or manganese intoxication.

Common side effects of Sinemet include:

• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• blurred vision,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• dry mouth,
• loss of appetite,
• heartburn,
• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• sneezing,
• stuffy nose,
• cough,
• other cold symptoms,
• muscle pain,
• numbness or tingly feeling,
• trouble sleeping (insomnia or strange dreams),
• skin rash,
• itching,
• and headache.

• greatly increased eye blinking/twitching,
• fainting,
• mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, depression, hallucinations, thoughts of suicide),
• unusual strong urges (such as increased gambling, increased sexual urges),
• or worsening of involuntary movements/spasms.

Common side effects of Rytary include:

• nausea,
• dizziness,
• headache,
• insomnia,
• abnormal dreams,
• dry mouth,
• involuntary movements,
• anxiety,
• constipation,
• vomiting, and
• low blood pressure and dizziness upon standing (orthostatic hypotension)

Sinemet (carbidopa-levodopa) is a combination of an inhibitor of aromatic amino acid decarboxylation and an aromatic amino acid used to treat Parkinson symptoms such as

• muscle stiffness,
• tremors,
• spasms,
• and poor muscle control.

Rytary (carbidopa and levodopa) is a combination an inhibitor of aromatic amino acid decarboxylation and an aromatic amino acid, used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, post-encephalitic Parkinsonism, and Parkinsonism that may follow carbon monoxide intoxication or manganese intoxication.

Sinemet may interact with metoclopramide, isoniazid, phenytoin, papaverine, antidepressants, or blood pressure medications.

Sinemet may also interact with other Parkinson's medications or medicines to treat psychiatric disorders.

Rytary may interact with MAO inhibitors, phenothiazines, butyrophenones, risperidone, metoclopramide, isoniazid, iron salts, or multi-vitamins containing iron salts. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. During pregnancy, Rytary should be used only if prescribed. These drugs may pass into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Starting dosage is one tablet of Sinemet 25-100 (carbidopa-levodopa) three times a day. Dosage may be increased by one tablet every day or every other day, as necessary, until a dosage of eight tablets a day is reached.

The recommended starting dosage of Rytary is 23.75 mg/95 mg taken orally three times a day for the first 3 days. On the fourth day of treatment, the dosage of Rytary may be increased to 36.25 mg/145 mg taken three times a day.