Side Effects of Orally Disintegrating Carbidopa-Levodopa (Cont.)

Bothersome Side Effects of Orally Disintegrating Carbidopa-Levodopa

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

Intolerable Side Effects of Orally Disintegrating Carbidopa-Levodopa

As time goes by, many people will begin to experience intolerable side effects of orally disintegrating 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. These often intolerable side effects include:
 
  • Wearing off -- the effects of orally disintegrating carbidopa-levodopa wear off earlier and earlier, with noticeable, worsening Parkinson's disease symptoms occurring before every dose of the medication.
  • Dyskinesia -- involuntary muscle movements usually caused by increased orally disintegrating carbidopa-levodopa doses (which are used in order to reduce the wearing-off effect of the medication).
  • 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.
     
It is thought that minimizing fluctuations of orally disintegrating carbidopa-levodopa levels in the blood may help reduce these intolerable side effects.
 
(Side Effects of Orally Disintegrating 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;