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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is Sinemet A Safe And Effective Alternative Of Carbidopa?

I was diagnosed with PD about two years ago, after elbow and lower back injuries from a purely accidental fall on an icy driveway did not improve. I am now 90 years old, but the only previous indication had been loss of sense of smell ten years ago, ascribed by my then current provider to a prescription medication (Lipitor) side effect. I have now been taking first two, then three half-pills of Carbidopa/Levodopa 25/100mg daily, resulting in no major changes of mental ability and stooping/shuffling movement, also treated with exercise. Again I had to change providers this month and was now instructed to take three WHOLE pills daily, with a new prescription for Sinement 25/100 #270. I just wish to verify confidentially that this Sinement version is a Carbidopa/Levodopa medication of the proper strength and will be safe to use as instructed. For some reason the website could not recognize this inquiry. Thank you for your assistance.
Tue, 6 Dec 2016
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Sinement plus-Oral
As monotherapy in Parkinson's disease

Adult: Per tablet contains L-dopa 100 mg and carbidopa 25 mg. Initially, 1 tab three times a day. Increase by 1 tab/day every 1-2 days up to a max. of 8 tabs of any strength/day. If the patient has been taking L-dopa alone, the combination should be started after a gap of at least 8 hr after stopping L-dopa.
Levodopa, a precursor of dopamine, crosses the blood-brain barrier and gets converted to dopamine in the basal ganglia while carbidopa is a dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor. The latter prevents conversion of L-dopa to dopamine outside the brain and minimises side effects.
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Is Sinemet A Safe And Effective Alternative Of Carbidopa?

Sinement plus-Oral As monotherapy in Parkinson s disease Adult: Per tablet contains L-dopa 100 mg and carbidopa 25 mg. Initially, 1 tab three times a day. Increase by 1 tab/day every 1-2 days up to a max. of 8 tabs of any strength/day. If the patient has been taking L-dopa alone, the combination should be started after a gap of at least 8 hr after stopping L-dopa. Levodopa, a precursor of dopamine, crosses the blood-brain barrier and gets converted to dopamine in the basal ganglia while carbidopa is a dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor. The latter prevents conversion of L-dopa to dopamine outside the brain and minimises side effects.