Sinemet
- Generic Name: carbidopa-levodopa
- Brand Name: Sinemet
Sinemet (Carbidopa-Levodopa) side effects drug center
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Sinemet Side Effects Center
What Is Sinemet?
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.
What Are Side Effects of Sinemet?
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.
Dosage for Sinemet
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.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Sinemet?
Sinemet may interact with other Parkinson's medications, metoclopramide, isoniazid, phenytoin, papaverine, blood pressure medication, antidepressants, or medicines to treat psychiatric disorders. Tell your doctor all medications you use.
Sinemet During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Sinemet should be used only when prescribed during pregnancy. Levodopa may pass into breast milk and affect milk production. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Additional Information
Our Sinemet (carbidopa-levodopa) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
Sinemet 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.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- uncontrolled muscle movements in your face (chewing, lip smacking, frowning, tongue movement, blinking or eye movement);
- worsening of tremors (uncontrolled shaking);
- severe or ongoing vomiting or diarrhea;
- confusion, hallucinations, unusual changes in mood or behavior;
- depression or suicidal thoughts; 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 and 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:
- jerky or twisting muscle movements;
- headache, dizziness;
- low blood pressure (feeling light-headed);
- sleep problems, strange dreams;
- dry mouth;
- muscle contractions; or
- nausea, vomiting, constipation.
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 Sinemet (Carbidopa-Levodopa)
Sinemet Professional Information
SIDE EFFECTS
The most common adverse reactions reported with SINEMET have included dyskinesias, such as choreiform, dystonic, and other involuntary movements, and nausea.
The following other adverse reactions have been reported with SINEMET:
Body As A Whole
Chest pain, asthenia.
Cardiovascular
Cardiac irregularities, hypotension, orthostatic effects including orthostatic hypotension, hypertension, syncope, phlebitis, palpitation.
Gastrointestinal
Dark saliva, gastrointestinal bleeding, development of duodenal ulcer, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, dyspepsia, dry mouth, taste alterations.
Hematologic
Agranulocytosis, hemolytic and non-hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia.
Hypersensitivity
Angioedema, urticaria, pruritus, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, bullous lesions (including pemphigus-like reactions).
Musculoskeletal
Back pain, shoulder pain, muscle cramps.
Nervous System/Psychiatric
Psychotic episodes including delusions, hallucinations, and paranoid ideation, 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 SINEMET has not been established.
Respiratory
Dyspnea, upper respiratory infection.
Skin
Rash, increased sweating, alopecia, dark sweat.
Urogenital
Urinary tract infection, urinary frequency, dark urine.
Laboratory Tests
Decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit; abnormalities in alkaline phosphatase, SGOT (AST), SGPT (ALT), LDH, bilirubin, BUN, Coombs test; elevated serum glucose; white blood cells, bacteria, and blood in the urine.
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Sinemet (Carbidopa-Levodopa)
&Copy; Sinemet Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Sinemet Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.