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| Pronunciation |
|
 (lee
voe DOE pa & kar bi DOE
pa) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Sinemet®; Sinemet®
CR |
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| Foreign Brand
Names |
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| Racovel (Mexico) |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Anti-Parkinson's Agent (Dopamine Agonist) |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to carbidopa, levodopa, or any other part of
the medicine.
- If you have any of the following conditions: Narrow-angle glaucoma,
history of melanoma, unexplained skin spots.
- If you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (phenelzine,
tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid) in the last 14
days.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used for the treatment of Parkinson's
disease.
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| How does it work? |
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- When used in Parkinson's disease, it improves the chemical balance in
the brain.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- Swallow sustained-release tablet whole or as a half. Do not crush or
chew.
- Avoid high protein diets.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider.
- Separate sustained-release dose by at least 6
hours.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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|
- If you are 65 or older, you may have more side effects.
- You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) and other medicines
and herbs that slow your actions and reactions. This includes sedatives,
tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, or pain medicine. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Lightheaded. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that
require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Dizziness is common. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or
lying position. Be careful climbing stairs.
- Involuntary movements. Twitching; twisting moves or repeated movement
of face, legs, or arms.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Check blood pressure regularly.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Changes in balance, feeling shaky or unsteady.
- Changes in thinking clearly and logically.
- Severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Involuntary movements.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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