Sinemet vs. Mirapex

Sinemet (carbidopa-levodopa) and Mirapex (pramipexole) are used to treat Parkinson symptoms such as muscle stiffness, tremors, spasms, and poor muscle control.

Sinemet is also used to treat Parkinson symptoms caused by carbon monoxide poisoning or manganese intoxication.

Mirapex is also used to treat restless legs syndrome.

Sinemet and Mirapex belong to different drug classes. Sinemet is a combination of an inhibitor of aromatic amino acid decarboxylation and an aromatic amino acid and Mirapex is a dopamine agonist.

Side effects of Sinemet and Mirapex that are similar include dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, changes in appetite, constipation, trouble sleeping (insomnia or strange dreams), and headache.

Side effects of Sinemet that are different from Mirapex include heartburn, diarrhea, sneezing, stuffy nose, cough, other cold symptoms, muscle pain, numbness or tingly feeling, skin rash, and itching.

Side effects of Mirapex that are different from Sinemet include dizziness when standing (postural hypotension), stomach pain, spinning sensation (vertigo), swelling in your hands and feet, weight changes, memory problems (amnesia), forgetfulness, confusion or thinking problems, swelling in your hands or feet, impotence, loss of interest in sex, and trouble having an orgasm.

Both Sinemet and Mirapex may interact with seizure medications, metoclopramide, and medicines to treat psychiatric disorders.

Sinemet may also interact with iron supplements or a diet that is high in protein, other Parkinson's medications, isoniazid, papaverine, blood pressure medications, and antidepressants.

Mirapex may also interact with alcohol and other drugs that make you sleepy (narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety) and cimetidine.

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.

Tell your doctor if you experience unlikely but serious side effects including:

• 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 Mirapex include:

• dizziness when standing (postural hypotension)
• nausea
• dry mouth
• stomach pain
• vomiting
• constipation
• headache
• dizziness
• spinning sensation
• drowsiness
• swelling in your hands and feet
• appetite or weight changes
• blurred vision
• sleep problems (insomnia or unusual dreams)
• memory problems (amnesia)
• forgetfulness
  confusion or thinking problems
• swelling in your hands or feet
• impotence
• loss of interest in sex, or
• trouble having an orgasm

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.

Sinemet is also used to treat Parkinson symptoms caused by carbon monoxide poisoning or manganese intoxication.

Mirapex (pramipexole) is a dopamine agonist medication used to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease, and restless legs syndrome.

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.

Mirapex may interact with cold or allergy medicines, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety, other medicines for Parkinson's disease, medicine to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting, or medicine to treat psychiatric disorders.

Mirapex may also interact with amantadine, cimetidine, diltiazem, ranitidine, quinidine, quinine, triamterene, verapamil, promethazine, and levodopa.

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.

Mirapex is taken in tablet form three times per day.