Sinemet
Drug Class and Mechanism of Action of Sinemet
Sinemet is combination of levodopa and carbidopa (antidyskinetic combination). Levodopa is transformed by the body into a substance that helps to decrease tremors and other symptoms of Parkinson disease and Carbidopa helps levodopa to reach the brain as levodopa can not reach brain easily.
Therapeutic Uses of Sinemet
Sinemet is used in treatment of symptoms associated with Parkinson disease and Parkinsonism like symptoms that may be caused by other conditions. It can also be used in other medical conditions as determined by your doctor.
Direction of use of Sinemet
Take Sinemet as per directionof your doctor:
Sinemet should be taken orally without food on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before meal or 2 hours after meal. You should carefully follow the dosing schedule given to you by your doctor. It may take several weeks to months to get some benefit from use of Sinemet because the dose is carefully adjusted over time. You should not stop taking Sinemet just because you are not getting immediate results. Take Sinemet regularly to get the most benefit from it and taking it at the same times each day will help you to remember to take it and also give better results. Keep taking Sinemet even if you feel well without missing a dose of it.
If you are taking iron salts like ferrous sulfate, you should not take them 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking Sinemet. Consult your doctor if you have questions about Sinemet. If you are already taking levodopa, do not start taking Sinemet until at least 12 hours after you have taken final dose of levodopa.
If You Miss a Dose of Sinemet
If you miss a dose of Sinemet, you should take it as soon as you can remember it. If the time for next dose has come you should skip the missed dose of Sinemet and go back you your normal dosing schedule. Never take double dose of Sinemet at a time.
How to Store Sinemet
Sinemet should be stored at room temperature between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). It can be stored at temperatures of 59 to 86 degrees F (15 to 30 degrees C) for a brief period of time. Store it away from heat, light and moisture in a well closed dark container. Keep Sinemet out of the reach of children and away from pets. Do not store it in your bathroom.
More Information About Sinemet
Sinemet should be taken only by the patient for whom it is prescribed and not shared with others. If you have any question about Sinemet, ask your doctor or other health care provider. If you do not get any result after few months of using Sinemet, you should consult your doctor.
Precautions to be Taken While Taking Sinemet
Do not use Sinemet if you have any of the following medical conditions and consult your doctor immediately:
- If you have allergy to any of the ingredients of Sinemet.
- If you have taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor like phenelzine within the last 2 weeks.
- If you are suffering from narrow-angle glaucoma, undiagnosed skin growths, skin cancer, or a history of skin cancer.
Important notes about Sinemet:
- Sinemet may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or lightheadedness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines with Sinemet. Use Sinemet with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks which require constant attention and monitoring while you are on Sinemet.
- Do not drink alcohol or use medicines that may cause drowsiness like sleep aids (pills), muscle relaxants etc. while you are using Sinemet; it may add to their drowsiness effect. Ask your doctor if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.
- Sinemet may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. Alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase the chances of fainting, dizziness or lightheadedness. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning and sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.
- Inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking Sinemet before you receive any medical or dental care, surgery or any emergency care.
- Sinemet may cause Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) which is a potentially fatal syndrome. Symptoms may include fever, stiffness of muscles, confusion, abnormal thinking, fast or irregular heartbeat, and sweating. Consult your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms.
- Pregnancy and breast feeding: Do not use Sinemet if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant, consult your doctor to discuss the benefits and risks of using Sinemet during pregnancy. It is not known if Sinemet is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast feeding while you are using Sinemet, consult your doctor to discuss any possible risks to your baby.
- Sinemet should not be used in children, because safety and effectiveness of it is not established.
- Use Sinemet with caution in elderly patients as they may be more sensitive to its side effects.
- Lab tests, like complete blood cell counts and liver function tests, may be performed while you are taking Sinemet. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects that may develop during treatment with Sinemet. Keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Sinemet may affect certain lab test results. Your doctors and lab personnel should know you are taking Sinemet.
- The effects of Sinemet might start to wear off between doses, if dosing is not done properly. Talk with your doctor if Sinemet stops working well or if your condition worsens.
- A dark color, red, brown, or black may appear in your saliva, urine, or sweat after taking Sinemet. This is not harmful and you need not worry.
- You should gradually increase physical activity as your symptoms improve after you start taking Sinemet.
- Do not stop taking Sinemet suddenly. Some symptoms may become worse when Sinemet is suddenly stopped. If you have to stop it, your dose may need to be slowly lowered by your doctor to avoid side effects.
- In diabetes patients Sinemet may affect your blood sugar. Monitor blood sugar levels closely during treatment with Sinemet. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
- In diabetes patients Sinemet may cause the results of some tests for urine ketone bodies to be wrong. Ask your doctor before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetes medicine.
Possible Adverse Effects of Sinemet
- The most common and minor side effects of Sinemet are vomiting, diarrhea; nausea; confusion; constipation; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; headache; increased sweating; loss of appetite; nausea; taste changes; trouble sleeping; stomach upset; urinary tract infection etc. Consult your doctor or other health care provider if any of the common side effects become troublesome or persistent.
- Get immediate medical attention if you experience any serious side effects of Sinemet. The serious side effects of Sinemet are severe allergic reaction (symptoms of severe allergic reaction are skin rash; hives; itching; difficulty in breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); black, tarry stools; blood in vomit; chest pain; muscle pain or unusual stiffness; severe abdominal pain; fever; fast or irregular heartbeat; confusion; depression; hallucinations; mental problems, mood changes; thoughts of suicide; severe lightheadedness or fainting; sore throat; unexplained fever or sweating; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual or painful movements or spasms of the face, eyelids, mouth, tongue, arms, hands, or legs; vision changes like blurring of vision or double vision; yellowing of the skin or eyes.