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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.
posted on Sun, 6 Nov 2016
Twitter Mon, 5 Dec 2016 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 6 Dec 2016 Last reviewed on
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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.