Lodosyn

What Is Lodosyn?

Lodosyn (carbidopa) is an inhibitor of aromatic amino acid decarboxylation used with levodopa to treat the stiffness, tremors, spasms, and poor muscle control of Parkinson's disease. Lodosyn and levodopa are also used to treat the same muscular conditions when caused by drugs such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, perphenazine, and others. Levodopa is turned into dopamine in the body. Lodosyn (carbidopa) is used with levodopa to prevent the breakdown (metabolism) of levodopa before it can reach the brain and take effect. Side effects with Lodosyn are rare and usually occur due to the effect of levodopa or other drugs used along with this medication.

What Are Side Effects of Lodosyn?

Side effects of Lodosyn and levodopa may include:

• dizziness
• nausea
• vomiting
• lightheadedness
• loss of appetite
• trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• unusual dreams or nightmares
• headache
• constipation
• dry mouth
• blurred vision
• hand tremor
• muscle twitches
• drowsiness
• confusion
• agitation
• anxiety
• darkening of urine
• sweat, or
• fatigue.

Dosage for Lodosyn

Most patients respond to a 1:10 proportion of Lodosyn and levodopa, provided the daily dosage of Lodosyn is 70 mg or more a day. The maximum daily dosage of Lodosyn should not exceed 200 mg.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Lodosyn?

Lododyn may interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), antacids, medicines to treat high blood pressure, medicines to treat seizures, papaverine, pyridoxine or vitamin B6, antidepressants, or medicines used to treat psychiatric conditions. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Lodosyn During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Lodosyn should be used only when prescribed during pregnancy. It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Additional Information

Our Lodosyn (carbidopa) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

 

Lodosyn Consumer Information

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

The following side effects may occur when carbidopa is taken with levodopa.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe drowsiness;
• uncontrolled muscle movements in your face (chewing, lip smacking, frowning, tongue movement, blinking or eye movement);
• worsening of tremors (uncontrolled shaking);
• severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
• confusion, hallucinations, unusual changes in mood or behavior;
• depression or suicidal thoughts;
• seizure (convulsions); or
• severe nervous system reaction--very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out.

Some people taking carbidopa with levodopa have fallen asleep during normal daytime activities such as working, talking, eating, or driving. Tell your doctor if you have any problems with daytime sleepiness or drowsiness.

You may have increased sexual urges, unusual urges to gamble, or other intense urges while taking this medicine. Talk with your doctor if this occurs.

You may notice that your sweat, urine, or saliva appears dark in color, such as red, brown, or black. This is not a harmful side effect, but it may cause staining of your clothes or bed sheets.

Common side effects may include:

• nausea, upset stomach;
• headache, dizziness;
• sleep problems (insomnia), dreaming more than usual;
• dry mouth, burning feeling in your tongue;
• weight changes; or
• abnormal liver function tests.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Lodosyn (Carbidopa)

 

Lodosyn Professional Information

SIDE EFFECTS

Carbidopa has not been demonstrated to have any overt pharmacodynamic actions in the recommended doses. The only adverse reactions that have been observed have been with concomitant use of carbidopa with other drugs such as levodopa, and with carbidopa-levodopa combination products.

When LODOSYN is administered concomitantly with levodopa or carbidopa-levodopa combination products, the most common adverse reactions have included dyskinesias such as choreiform, dystonic, and other involuntary movements, and nausea. Other adverse reactions reported with LODOSYN when administered concomitantly with levodopa alone or carbidopa-levodopa combination products were psychotic episodes including delusions, hallucinations, and paranoid ideation, depression with or without development of suicidal tendencies, and dementia. Convulsions also have occurred; however, a causal relationship with concomitant use of LODOSYN and levodopa has not been established.

The following other adverse reactions have been reported with levodopa and carbidopa-levodopa combination products. These same adverse reactions may also occur when LODOSYN is administered with these products.

Body as a Whole: abdominal pain and distress, asthenia, chest pain, fatigue.

Cardiovascular: cardiac irregularities, hypertension, myocardial infarction, hypotension including orthostatic hypotension, palpitation, phlebitis, syncope.

Gastrointestinal: anorexia, bruxism, burning sensation of the tongue, constipation, dark saliva, development of duodenal ulcer, diarrhea, dry mouth, dyspepsia, dysphagia, flatulence, gastrointestinal bleeding, gastrointestinal pain, heartburn, hiccups, sialorrhea, taste alterations, vomiting.

Hematologic: hemolytic and non-hemolytic anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis.

Hypersensitivity: angioedema, urticaria, pruritus, Henoch-Schonlein purpura, bullous lesions (including pemphigus-like reactions).

Metabolic: edema, weight gain, weight loss.

Musculoskeletal: back pain, leg pain, muscle cramps, shoulder pain.

Nervous System/Psychiatric: Psychotic episodes including delusions, hallucinations and paranoid ideation, NMS (see WARNINGS), bradykinetic episodes (“on-off” phenomenon), confusion, agitation, dizziness, somnolence, dream abnormalities including nightmares, insomnia, paresthesia, headache, depression with or without development of suicidal tendencies, dementia, pathological gambling, increased libido including hypersexuality, impulse control symptoms. Convulsions also have occurred; however, a causal relationship with LODOSYN and levodopa, has not been established.

Respiratory: upper respiratory infection, dyspnea, pharyngeal pain, cough.

Skin: flushing, increased sweating, malignant melanoma (see CONTRAINDICATIONS), rash, alopecia, dark sweat.

Special Senses: oculogyric crises, diplopia, blurred vision, dilated pupils.

Urogenital: dark urine, priapism, urinary frequency, urinary incontinence, urinary retention, urinary tract infection.

Laboratory Tests: abnormalities in alkaline phosphatase, SGOT (AST), SGPT (ALT), lactic dehydrogenase, bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), Coombs test; elevated serum glucose; decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit; decreased white blood cell count and serum potassium; increased serum creatinine and uric acid; white blood cells, bacteria and blood in the urine; protein and glucose in the urine.

Miscellaneous: bizarre breathing patterns, faintness, hoarseness, hot flashes, malaise, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, sense of stimulation.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Bausch Health US, LLC at 1-800-321-4576 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Lodosyn (Carbidopa)