Carbidopa

Other Names: Parcopa, Sinemet CR, Stalevo.

Commonly Prescribed For: Carbidopa is combined with Levodopa for treating certain symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease including slowness of movement, tremors and stiffness.

How to Take it: Carbidopa and Levodopa combination is available in the form of a regular tablet, a long-acting capsule, and an orally disintegrating tablet to be taken via mouth. This medication is generally taken 3 or 4 times every day. The extended release tablet is normally taken 2 to 4 times every day. Do no chew or crush the extended-release tablets, instead swallow the tablets entirely.

How it Works: Carbidopa belongs to a group of medications known as decarboxylase inhibitors. It prevents the breakage of Levodopa, before it could reach the brain. Levodopa belongs to a group of drugs known as central nervous system agents. It gets converted into dopamine in the brain.

Some Side Effects: Common side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, increased sweating, vomiting, and weakness, loss of appetite, headaches, diarrhea, difficulty sleeping, dry mouth, nightmares, constipation, nervousness, unusual taste and confusion. Serious side effects include irregular heartbeat, bloody vomit, unusual movements of the face, and arms, red blood in stools, depression, black and tarry stools, killing one self, hives, hallucinating, difficulty breathing or swallowing and inflammation of the face, hands, or lower legs.