How Carbidopa works

Carbidopa is always given with levodopa. It works by preventing levodopa from being broken down before it reaches the brain. This allows for a lower dose of levodopa, which causes less nausea and vomiting.

Side Effects

Nausea, Neuroleptic malignant syndrome, Panic attacks, Altered behaviour, Mood changes, Altered sleep, Burning sensation of tongue, Confusion, Convulsion, Dizziness, Drowsiness, Fever, Frequent dreams, Hallucination, Increased sweating, Tachycardia, Irregular heart rate, Tremor, Vomiting, Worsening of tremor, Muscle stiffness

Usage

Carbidopa is used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is carbidopa used for/ what does carbidopa treat/ Is carbidopa a dopamine agonist/ a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)/ addictive/ a blood thinner?

Carbidopa is used in combination with other drug levodopa to treat symptoms associated with Parkinson disease and parkinsonism-like symptoms caused by other conditions. It is neither a dopamine agonist, nor a MAOI. It can be addictive and cause blood thinning in some patients

Q. Is carbidopa levodopa/ Is carbidopa levodopa a controlled substance/ a MAOI/ a narcotic/ is carbidopa-levodopa addiction?

Carbidopa works by helping levodopa to reach the brain. It is not a controlled substance, a MAOI, a narcotic. Some people may get addicted to carbidopa levodopa treatment for experiencing better sense of well-being

Q. How does carbidopa effect levodopa?

Carbidopa prevents conversion of levodopa to dopamine in the bloodstream, providing a larger amount of levodopa to relieve symptoms of Parkinson's disease

Q. Does carbidopa get you high/lower blood pressure/cause hallucinations/cause constipation?

Carbidopa can get some people high, it can cause side effects such as low blood pressure, hallucinations and constipation

Q. Does carbidopa cross the blood brain barrier?

Carbidopa itself cannot cross the blood brain barrier but it allows peripheral levodopa in doing so

Q. How does carbidopa affect the on-off phenomenon?

Patients treated with levodopa therapy for Parkinson's disease may develop motor fluctuations characterized by end-of-dose failure, peak dose dyskinesia, and akinesia. The advanced form of motor fluctuations ('on-off’ phenomenon) is characterized by unpredictable swings from mobility to immobility. Although the causes of the motor fluctuations are not completely understood, in some patients they may be attenuated by treatment regimens that produce steady plasma levels of levodopa

Q. What does carbidopa levodopa look like?

Carbidopa levopoda is basically available in circular, oval or elliptical form and in different colors and sizes which varies for different brands.