Duodopa 250 mg/25 mg Tablet

Duodopa 250 mg/25 mg Tablet is an anti-Parkinsonian medicine that contains levodopa 250 mg and carbidopa 25 mg in each tablet. It belongs to the dopamine replacement class and is used to help control symptoms of Parkinson’s disease such as tremor, stiffness, slowness, and trouble with movement. This Duodopa 250 mg/25 mg Tablet is a higher-strength tablet, so it is used when a clinician has assessed that this dose is appropriate for the patient’s symptom control needs. It is a prescription medicine and should be taken only as directed by a doctor.

How it works: Levodopa is turned into dopamine in the brain, helping replace the dopamine that is low in Parkinson’s disease. Carbidopa helps levodopa get to the brain more efficiently and reduces levodopa-related nausea and other side effects, and the tablet form is swallowed to release the medicine systemically after absorption.

Each Duodopa 250 mg/25 mg Tablet delivers a relatively high amount of levodopa compared with lower-strength carbidopa/levodopa tablets, so it is not the usual starting option for many patients. A doctor may choose this strength when a patient needs stronger symptom control, has already been titrated upward, or needs fewer tablets per dose to reach the prescribed amount. Because it is a higher-strength tablet, it may feel more potent and can also increase the chance of side effects if used without proper dose adjustment.

• Treatment of Parkinson’s disease
• Helps reduce tremor
• Helps improve muscle stiffness
• Helps ease slow movement
• May reduce off-time symptoms when prescribed by a clinician

• Swallow the tablet whole with water unless your doctor gives different instructions.
• Take it exactly on the schedule prescribed; do not change the dose on your own.
• If stomach upset occurs, the tablet may be taken with a light snack, but very high-protein meals can reduce levodopa absorption.
• Avoid taking iron supplements at the same time as this tablet unless your doctor tells you how to separate them.
• Do not crush or split the tablet unless your prescriber or pharmacist confirms it is appropriate.
• Take care when standing up after a dose, since this strength may cause dizziness or low blood pressure in some people.

Each Duodopa 250 mg/25 mg Tablet provides 250 mg of levodopa plus 25 mg of carbidopa. The number of tablets per dose and how many times per day it is taken depend on the patient’s response, previous treatment, and the doctor’s plan; this higher-strength tablet is often used in divided doses rather than as a one-size-fits-all regimen. The exact maximum per day must be set by the prescriber for this strength, because Parkinson’s dosing is individualized and higher total daily doses can increase side effects.

Do not change your dose or stop the medicine without speaking to your doctor.

Common side effects of Carbidopa + Levodopa may include:

• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Sleepiness
• Headache
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• More involuntary movements or dyskinesia, especially at higher total doses

• This is a higher-strength Duodopa 250 mg/25 mg Tablet and should be used only under close medical supervision.
• It can cause dizziness or sleepiness, so be careful driving or using machinery until you know how it affects you.
• Alcohol may worsen drowsiness, dizziness, and blood pressure changes.
• Tell your doctor if you have heart disease, arrhythmias, glaucoma, asthma, liver disease, kidney disease, or a history of ulcers.
• Do not stop this medicine suddenly without medical advice, because Parkinson’s symptoms can worsen.
• Tell your clinician about any history of hallucinations, impulse-control problems, or depression.
• If you take protein-heavy meals, your response to levodopa may be less predictable.

• MAO inhibitors, especially nonselective or recent use, can cause dangerous interactions.
• Iron supplements can reduce absorption of levodopa/carbidopa.
• Blood pressure medicines may increase the risk of dizziness or fainting.
• Certain antipsychotics and some anti-nausea medicines can reduce levodopa’s effect.
• Tricyclic antidepressants and some other medicines may increase side effects or blood pressure changes.

Store Duodopa 250 mg/25 mg Tablet in its original strip/box at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and light, and keep it out of reach of children.