Levodopa+benserazide
About
Levodopa+benserazide belongs to the class of medications called ‘Antiparkinson agents’ used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement and locomotion. It causes stiffness, shaking, difficulty in walking, coordination, and balance. These symptoms interfere with daily activities and decrease the quality-of-life.
Levodopa+benserazide contains Levodopa and Benserazide. Levodopa is a dopamine agonist and acts by increasing the dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical messenger present in the brain that is important for movement control. Benserazide is a decarboxylase inhibitor. It prevents the breakdown of levodopa and increases its effectiveness. Together, Levodopa+benserazide can effectively reduce the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
You should take this medicine exactly as prescribed by the doctor. The common side-effects of Levodopa+benserazide are Involuntary jerking movements of the body, agitation, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not true), nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight gain, constipation, skin rash, itching, confusion, tiredness, water retention, and difficulty sleeping or sudden onset of sleep episodes. These side-effects are usually seen at the initial days of therapy. However, if any of these side-effects persist or get worse, inform your doctor immediately.
It is not recommended to take Levodopa+benserazide if you are allergic to any contents of it. Do not take Levodopa+benserazide if you have glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye), serious liver, kidney, or heart problems, overactive thyroid, severe mental illness, skin cancer, and have been using non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitor’ (MAOI) in the last 14 days. It is not recommended for use in individuals less than 25 years of age, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. It should be used with caution in the elderly, as dose adjustments may be necessary. Do not consume alcohol as it may increase the risk of side-effects. Levodopa+benserazide may affect your ability to drive, so do not drive or operate heavy machinery if you are not fully alert.
Uses of Levodopa+benserazide
Medicinal Benefits
Levodopa+benserazide is used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. It replaces the deficient dopamine in the brain, which is essential for the brain's normal functioning. It helps to improve muscle control, thereby allowing the body to have more normal movements. It reduces the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, thereby improving the quality-of-life.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Levodopa+benserazide
- Involuntary jerking movements of the body
- Agitation
- Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not true)
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Irregular heartbeat (faster or slower than normal)
- Weight gain
- Constipation
- Skin rash
- Itching
- Confusion
- Tiredness
- Water retention
- Anaemia (low numbers of red blood cells)
- Changes to how things taste or a loss of taste
- Difficulty sleeping or sudden onset of sleep episodes
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Before taking Levodopa+benserazide, inform your doctor if you have hormonal problems, diabetes, heart problems, stomach ulcer, and osteomalacia (soft and weak bones). Do not take this medicine if you have been taking non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid and phenelzine in the last 14 days. If you notice impulse control disorders such as gambling addiction, increased libido (sexual desire), sexual addiction, compulsive spending or buying, and binge eating, inform your doctor immediately. In such cases, the doctor may reduce the dose or stop the treatment based on your condition.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Levodopa+benserazide may interact with other medicines used to treat Parkinson’s disease (amantadine, selegiline, orphenadrine, pergolide, ropinirole, and entacapone), a medicine used to treat low levels of iron (ferrous sulfate), antacids, a medicine used to aid digestion (metoclopramide), medicines used to treat mental illness (chlorpromazine, promazine, prochlorperazine, haloperidol, benperidol, flupentixol, and zuclopenthixol), a medicine used to treat anxiety (diazepam), a medicine used to control muscle movements (tetrabenazine), a medicine used to improve blood flow (papaverine), a medicine used to treat high blood pressure (reserpine), a medicine used to treat asthma (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and isoproterenol), a medicine used to control appetite and weight gain (amphetamines), strong pain killer (codeine and morphine), and medicine used to treat nausea and vomiting (domperidone).
Drug-Food Interactions: Do not take Levodopa+benserazide with a high-protein food (meat). Do not consume alcohol, as it can increase the risk of side-effects.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Levodopa+benserazide should not be used in patients with glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye), serious liver, kidney, heart problems, overactive thyroid, severe mental illness, and skin cancer.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionDo not consume alcohol as it may increase the risk of side-effects.
Pregnancy
cautionLevodopa+benserazide may cause harmful effects to the unborn baby when used in pregnant women. So, it is used only if the doctor thinks the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionLevodopa+benserazide may cause harmful effects to the nursing baby when used in breastfeeding mothers. So, it is used only if the doctor thinks the benefits outweigh the risks.
Driving
unsafeLevodopa+benserazide may cause sudden onset of sleepiness. So, it is advised not to drive or operate heavy machinery while using Levodopa+benserazide.
Liver
cautionLevodopa+benserazide should be used with caution if you have a history of liver diseases. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Kidney
cautionLevodopa+benserazide should be used with caution if you have a history of kidney diseases. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
unsafeLevodopa+benserazide is not recommended for children as the safety and efficacy were not established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Avoid high protein foods like soy protein, fish, eggs, chicken, beef, and pork. Eat more whole-grain foods such as whole-wheat bread, oatmeal, brown rice, or pasta.
- Eat more fiber-rich foods to ease constipation.
- Drink plenty of water to avoid headaches due to dehydration.
- Avoid consumption of alcohol as it may increase drowsiness.
Special Advise
- Do not discontinue treatment abruptly without discussing it with your doctor, as Levodopa+benserazide may cause withdrawal symptoms such as confusion, muscle stiffness, and changes in heartbeat and breathing.
- Let your doctor know that you are taking Levodopa+benserazide before undergoing any laboratory tests as it may affect some test results. In addition, it needs to be stopped before undergoing surgery or before taking a general anesthetic.
- Use reliable and effective contraception while using this medicine to prevent pregnancy.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Parkinson’s disease (PD): It is also known as a movement disorder that mainly affects a person's ability to perform regular activities. It is a chronic (long-term) and progressive disorder that can worsen with time if proper treatment is not provided at the right time. Some of the common symptoms faced by many persons include tremors at rest, stiffness of the limbs, slowness of movement, difficulty in movement or walking, and impaired balance. Other motor symptoms include trouble in solving problems, small handwriting, stooped posture, etc. This disease also affects the brain's ability to work properly, such as sleep disturbances, reduced ability to smell, depression, fatigue, and anxiety. However, the symptoms of this disease vary from person to person. There are certain neurons present in the brain that are responsible for making dopamine. This neurotransmitter helps to regulate the movement of the body. Loss of dopamine is supposed to be the primary reason for the occurrence of Parkinson's disease. Treatment with medicines and physiotherapy may help control the symptoms and provide a quality life for as long as possible.
FAQs
Levodopa+benserazide contains 'Levodopa' and ‘Benserazide’, which is used to treat Parkinson's disease. Levodopa works by increasing dopamine levels, a chemical messenger present in the brain that causes symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Benserazide prevents the breakdown of Levodopa, thereby improving its efficacy.
Levodopa+benserazide can cause drowsiness. Some patients taking this medicine may also experience a sudden onset of sleepiness without any warning signs. So, it would be best if you refrained from activities that require you to stay alert, such as driving or operating heavy machinery.
Levodopa+benserazide may alter test results of some blood or urine tests. So, it is essential to let your doctor know before undergoing any laboratory tests.
Levodopa+benserazide is not recommended for patients with glaucoma (damage of optic nerve due to increased pressure in the eye) as it may increase the fluid pressure inside the eye.
Inform your doctor if you notice any impulsive behaviors such as the urge to eat, gamble, spend money, or increased sexual desire. Levodopa+benserazide may cause drowsiness, so do not drive or operate heavy machinery.
