BENSERAZIDE + LEVODOPA

Benserazide + Levodopa is a combination drug that is used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Levodopa gives rise to a substance called dopamine in the body. Most of the drug is converted to dopamine by an enzyme called dopa-decarboxylase. Benserazide is a drug that inhibits the enzyme decarboxylase to decrease levodopa conversion. This combination gives rise to fewer side effects such as nausea and vomiting.

Uses

Benserazide + Levodopa is used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease

Warnings

Benserazide + Levodopa is best taken on an empty stomach or before or an hour after meals. This medicine should not be used by people who have withdrawn from treatment of non-selective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors within 2 weeks.

This medicine should also be avoided by people with the following conditions:

Psychiatric disorders
Hormonal and endocrine problems
Kidney disease
Liver disease
Heart problems
Narrow-angle glaucoma
Malignant melanoma

This medicine should not be used in people less than 25 years old and those who are pregnant.

Side Effects

Benserazide + Levodopa may have the following side effects:

Gastrointestinal problems
Nausea
Vomiting
Anorexia
Diarrhoea
Taste disturbances
Peptic ulcer
Orthostatic hypotension
Abnormalities in heart rate and rhythm
Psychiatric disturbances e.g. mild elation, anxiety, agitation, insomnia, drowsiness, depression, aggression, hallucination
Somnolence
Sudden onset of sleep episodes
Abnormal involuntary movements e.g. dyskinesia, dystonia, chorea
Haemolytic anemia
Transient leucopenia and thrombocytopenia
Transient elevations of liver enzymes
Increased BUN and uric acid

Precautions

Precautions

Take special precautions in people with the following conditions:

Heart problems
Kidney disease
Liver problems
Lung disease
Hormonal and endocrine problems
Seizure disorders
Psychiatric disturbances such as depression
Open-angle glaucoma
Osteomalacia
History of peptic ulcer

This medicine should not be used among pregnant or breastfeeding women. When used, monitor for liver, psychiatric, blood, kidney and heart problems regularly.

Interactions

Benserazide + Levodopa can interact with the following medicines:

TCAs
Phenothiazines
Butyrophenones
Thioxanthenes
Other antipsychotic agents
Reserpine
Papaverine
Phenytoin
Isoniazid
Ferrous sulfate
Pyridoxine
Anticholinergics
Methyldopa
Metoclopramide
Nonselective MAOIs
Cyclopropane
Halothane

Overdose & Brands

Overdose signs and symptoms include the following:

Nausea
Vomiting
Insomnia
Confusion
Cardiac arrhythmia
Abnormal involuntary movements

If you think you have overdosed, seek medical help immediately.

Available Brand/s:

Madopar 250/Madopar HBS