Side Effects of Carbidopa-Levodopa (Cont.)

Bothersome Side Effects of Carbidopa-Levodopa

Although carbidopa-levodopa can cause some serious side effects, many side effects of the medication are merely bothersome and often require no treatment. Some of these side effects include:
 
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Abdominal pain (stomach pain), diarrhea, or constipation
  • General weakness or fatigue
  • Increased sweating or dark (red, brown, or black) saliva, sweat, or urine
  • Loss of appetite, weight loss, or weight gain
  • Indigestion or heartburn
  • Dry mouth, taste changes, or drooling
  • Shoulder, leg, or back pain
  • Muscle cramps
  • Drowsiness or insomnia
  • Headaches
  • Increased sex drive (libido)
  • Hair loss
  • Gas or hiccups
  • Teeth grinding
  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs, such as a bladder infection)
  • Coughing
  • Flushing or hot flashes.
     

Intolerable Side Effects of Carbidopa-Levodopa

As time goes by, many people will begin to experience intolerable side effects of carbidopa-levodopa. While these side effects are not usually dangerous, they often signify that it is time for your healthcare provider to reevaluate your current Parkinson's disease treatment plan. Some of these side effects include:
 
 
  • Dyskinesia -- Involuntary muscle movements usually caused by increased carbidopa-levodopa doses, which are used in order to reduce the wearing-off effect of the drug.
 
  • On-off -- Sudden, unpredictable changes in movement, varying from typical Parkinson's movements to a complete lack of movement ("freezing"), possibly occurring several times during the day.
     
Minimizing fluctuations of carbidopa-levodopa levels in the blood may help reduce these intolerable side effects of carbidopa-levodopa.
 
(Side Effects of Carbidopa-Levodopa Continued: Page 3)

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;