Carbidopa and Levodopa
Principio activo: CARBIDOPA AND LEVODOPA
Vía de administración
ORAL
Indicaciones
INDICATIONS AND USAGE Carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets are indicated in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, post-encephalitic parkinsonism, and symptomatic parkinsonism that may follow carbon monoxide intoxication or manganese intoxication.
Posología
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets contain carbidopa and levodopa in a 1:4 ratio as either the 50-200 tablet or the 25-100 tablet. The daily dosage of carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets must be determined by careful titration. Patients should be monitored closely during the dose adjustment period, particularly with regard to appearance or worsening of involuntary movements, dyskinesias or nausea. Carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets should not be chewed or crushed. Standard drugs for Parkinson’s disease, other than levodopa without a decarboxylase inhibitor, may be used concomitantly while carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets are being administered, although their dosage may have to be adjusted. Since carbidopa prevents the reversal of levodopa effects caused by pyridoxine, carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets can be given to patients receiving supplemental pyridoxine (vitamin B 6 ). Initial Dosage Patients Currently Treated with Conventional Carbidopa-Levodopa Preparations Studies show that peripheral dopa-decarboxylase is saturated by the bioavailable carbidopa at doses of 70 mg a day and greater. Because the bioavailabilities of carbidopa and levodopa in carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release tablets and carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets are different, appropriate adjustments should be made, as shown in Table 2. Table 2: Approximate Bioavailabilities at Steady State This table is only a guide to bioavailabilities since other factors such as food, drugs, and inter-patient variabilities may affect the bioavailability of carbidopa and levodopa. Tablet Amount of Levodopa (mg) in Each Tablet Approximate Bioavailability Approximate Amount of Bioavailable Levodopa (mg) in Each Tablet Carbidopa and Levodopa Extended-Release Tablets 50 mg/200 mg 200 0.70-0.75 The extent of availability of levodopa from carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets was about 70-75% relative to intravenous levodopa or standard carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release tablets in the elderly. 140-150 Carbidopa and Levodopa Immediate-Release Tablets 25 mg/100 mg 100 0.99 The extent of availability of levodopa from carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release tablets was 99% relative to intravenous levodopa in the healthy elderly. 99 Dosage with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets should be substituted at an amount that provides approximately 10% more levodopa per day, although this may need to be increased to a dosage that provides up to 30% more levodopa per day depending on clinical response (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Titration with Carbidopa and Levodopa Extended-Release Tablets ). The interval between doses of carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets should be 4-8 hours during the waking day (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Pharmacodynamics ). A guideline for initiation of carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets is shown in Table 3. Table 3: Guidelines for Initial Conversion from Carbidopa and Levodopa Immediate-Release Tablets to Carbidopa and Levodopa Extended-Release Tablets Carbidopa and Levodopa Immediate-Release Tablets Total Daily Dose For dosing ranges not shown in the table see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Initial Dosage: Patients Currently Treated with Conventional Carbidopa and Levodopa Preparations. Levodopa (mg) Carbidopa and Levodopa Extended-Release Tablets Suggested Dosage Regimen 300-400 200 mg b.i.d. 500-600 300 mg b.i.d. or 200 mg t.i.d. 700-800 A total of 800 mg in 3 or more divided doses (e.g., 300 mg a.m., 300 mg early p.m., and 200 mg later p.m.) 900-1000 A total of 1000 mg in 3 or more divided doses (e.g., 400 mg a.m., 400 mg early p.m., and 200 mg later p.m.) Patients Currently Treated with Levodopa Without a Decarboxylase Inhibitor Levodopa must be discontinued at least twelve hours before therapy with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets is started. Carbidopa and levodopa extended-release ta
Contraindicaciones
CONTRAINDICATIONS Nonselective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors are contraindicated for use with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets. These inhibitors must be discontinued at least two weeks prior to initiating therapy with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release. Carbidopa and levodopa extended-release may be administered concomitantly with the manufacturer’s recommended dose of an MAO inhibitor with selectivity for MAO type B (e.g., selegiline HCl) (see PRECAUTIONS: Drug Interactions ). Carbidopa and levodopa extended-release is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any component of this drug and in patients with narrow-angle glaucoma.
Embarazo y lactancia
Pregnancy No teratogenic effects were observed in a study in mice receiving up to 20 times the maximum recommended human dose of carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release. There was a decrease in the number of live pups delivered by rats receiving approximately two times the maximum recommended human dose of carbidopa and approximately five times the maximum recommended human dose of levodopa during organogenesis. Carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release caused both visceral and skeletal malformations in rabbits at all doses and ratios of carbidopa/levodopa tested, which ranged from 10 times/5 times the maximum recommended human dose of carbidopa/levodopa to 20 times/10 times the maximum recommended human dose of carbidopa/levodopa. There are no adequate or well-controlled studies in pregnant women. It has been reported from individual cases that levodopa crosses the human placental barrier, enters the fetus, and is metabolized. Carbidopa concentrations in fetal tissue appeared to be minimal. Use of carbidopa and levodopa extended-release in women of childbearing potential requires that the anticipated benefits of the drug be weighed against possible hazards to mother and child.
Efectos adversos
ADVERSE REACTIONS In controlled clinical trials, patients predominantly with moderate to severe motor fluctuations while on carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release were randomized to therapy with either carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release or carbidopa and levodopa extended-release. The adverse experience frequency profile of carbidopa and levodopa extended-release did not differ substantially from that of carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release, as shown in Table 1. Table 1: Clinical Adverse Experiences Occurring in 1% or Greater of Patients Adverse Experience Carbidopa and Levodopa Extended-Release n = 491 % Carbidopa and Levodopa Immediate-Release n = 524 % Dyskinesia 16.5 12.2 Nausea 5.5 5.7 Hallucinations 3.9 3.2 Confusion 3.7 2.3 Dizziness 2.9 2.3 Depression 2.2 1.3 Urinary tract infection 2.2 2.3 Headache 2.0 1.9 Dream abnormalities 1.8 0.8 Dystonia 1.8 0.8 Vomiting 1.8 1.9 Upper respiratory infection 1.8 1.0 Dyspnea 1.6 0.4 ‘On-Off’ phenomena 1.6 1.1 Back pain 1.6 0.6 Dry mouth 1.4 1.1 Anorexia 1.2 1.1 Diarrhea 1.2 0.6 Insomnia 1.2 1.0 Orthostatic hypotension 1.0 1.1 Shoulder pain 1.0 0.6 Chest pain 1.0 0.8 Muscle cramps 0.8 1.0 Paresthesia 0.8 1.1 Urinary frequency 0.8 1.1 Dyspepsia 0.6 1.1 Constipation 0.2 1.5 Abnormal laboratory findings occurring at a frequency of 1% or greater in approximately 443 patients who received carbidopa and levodopa extended-release and 475 who received carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release during controlled clinical trials included: decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit; elevated serum glucose; white blood cells, bacteria and blood in the urine. The adverse experiences observed in patients in uncontrolled studies were similar to those seen in controlled clinical studies. Other adverse experiences reported overall in clinical trials in 748 patients treated with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release, listed by body system in order of decreasing frequency, include: Body as a Whole: Asthenia, fatigue, abdominal pain, orthostatic effects. Cardiovascular: Palpitation, hypertension, hypotension, myocardial infarction. Gastrointestinal: Gastrointestinal pain, dysphagia, heartburn. Metabolic: Weight loss. Musculoskeletal: Leg pain. Nervous System/Psychiatric: Chorea, somnolence, falling, anxiety, disorientation, decreased mental acuity, gait abnormalities, extrapyramidal disorder, agitation, nervousness, sleep disorders, memory impairment. Respiratory: Cough, pharyngeal pain, common cold. Skin: Rash. Special Senses: Blurred vision. Urogenital: Urinary incontinence. Laboratory Tests: Decreased white blood cell count and serum potassium; increased BUN, serum creatinine and serum LDH; protein and glucose in the urine. The following adverse experiences have been reported in postmarketing experience with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release: Cardiovascular: Cardiac irregularities, syncope. Gastrointestinal: Taste alterations, dark saliva. Hypersensitivity: Angioedema, urticaria, pruritus, bullous lesions (including pemphigus-like reactions). Nervous System/Psychiatric: Increased tremor, peripheral neuropathy, psychotic episodes including delusions and paranoid ideation, pathological gambling, increased libido including hypersexuality, impulse control symptoms. Skin: Alopecia, flushing, dark sweat. Urogenital: Dark urine. Other adverse reactions that have been reported with levodopa alone and with various carbidopa-levodopa formulations and may occur with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release are: Cardiovascular: Phlebitis. Gastrointestinal: Gastrointestinal bleeding, development of duodenal ulcer, sialorrhea, bruxism, hiccups, flatulence, burning sensation of tongue. Hematologic: Hemolytic and nonhemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, agranulocytosis. Hypersensitivity: Henoch-Schonlein purpura. Metabolic: Weight gain, edema. Nervous System/Psychiatric: Ataxia, depression with suicidal tendencies, dementia, euphoria, convulsions (however, a causal relationship has not been establ
Fuente: OpenFDA. Última actualización: 2026-05-03. Este resumen es apoyo a la decisión clínica, no sustituye juicio profesional ni la ficha técnica oficial del laboratorio.
Editor en Jefe: Dr. Alexander Jesús Figueredo Izaguirre — RP #108356