Carbidopa

What is carbidopa used for?

• Carbidopa is used to treat Parkinson's disease.
• It is used to treat signs like Parkinson's disease caused by other health problems.
• Carbidopa may be given to you for other reasons. Talk to your doctor.

Before taking carbidopa, tell your doctor:

For all patients taking carbidopa:

• If you are allergic to carbidopa; any part of this medicine; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you have glaucoma.
• If you have taken certain drugs for depression or Parkinson's disease in the last 14 days. This includes isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, selegiline, or rasagiline. Very high blood pressure may happen.
• If you are taking another drug that has the same drug in it.
• If you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.

Children:

• If the patient is a child. Do not give carbidopa to a child.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with carbidopa.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take carbidopa with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take carbidopa?

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take carbidopa. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until you see how carbidopa affects you.
• To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down. Be careful going up and down stairs.
• Talk with your doctor before you drink alcohol or use other drugs and natural products that slow your actions.
• Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
• This medicine may affect certain lab tests. Tell all of your health care providers and lab workers that you take carbidopa.
• If you have high blood sugar (diabetes), talk with your doctor about which glucose tests are best to use.
• This medicine may "wear off" as the time for your next dose gets closer. Tell your doctor if this happens and it bothers you.
• A dark color (red, brown, or black) may show up in your saliva, urine, or sweat. This is not harmful but may discolor your clothes.
• It may take a few months to see the full effect.
• This medicine is used with a drug called levodopa.
• Some people have fallen asleep during activities like driving, eating, or talking. Some people did not feel sleepy and felt alert right before falling asleep. This has happened up to 1 year after carbidopa was started. If you fall asleep during activities, do not drive or do other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert while you take carbidopa. Call your doctor right away if this happens or you feel very sleepy.
• The chance of a type of skin cancer called melanoma may be raised in people with Parkinson's disease. It is not known if carbidopa may also raise the chance. Have skin exams while you take carbidopa. Talk with your doctor.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using carbidopa while you are pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

How is carbidopa best taken?

Use carbidopa as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• Diets high in protein, fat, or calories may lower how well your body absorbs carbidopa; tell your doctor if you have a diet like this or if you will be changing your diet. Talk with your doctor.
• If you take an iron product or a multivitamin that has iron, ask your doctor or pharmacist how to take it with carbidopa. Iron may lower how well your body is able to absorb carbidopa.
• Do not stop taking carbidopa all of a sudden or lower your dose without talking to your doctor. Side effects may happen.
• Take carbidopa at the same time of day.
• Keep taking carbidopa even when you are not having symptoms.
• Keep a diary of your signs.
• Keep taking carbidopa as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

What are the side effects of carbidopa that I need to call my doctor about immediately?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of low mood (depression), thoughts of killing yourself, nervousness, emotional ups and downs, thinking that is not normal, anxiety, or lack of interest in life.
• Signs of high or low blood pressure like very bad headache or dizziness, passing out, or change in eyesight.
• Change in the way you act.
• Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there).
• Feeling confused.
• Strong urges that are hard to control (such as eating, gambling, sex, or spending money).
• Throwing up blood or throw up that looks like coffee grounds.
• Black, tarry, or bloody stools.
• Belly pain.
• A burning, numbness, or tingling feeling that is not normal.
• Any unexplained bruising or bleeding.
• Chest pain or pressure.
• A heartbeat that does not feel normal.
• Fever or chills.
• Sore throat.
• A skin lump or growth.
• Change in color or size of a mole.
• Change in eyesight, eye pain, or very bad eye irritation.
• Trouble controlling body movements that is new or worse.
• Grinding of teeth.
• Shortness of breath.
• Feeling very tired or weak.
• Swelling in the arms or legs.
• A very bad and sometimes deadly health problem called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) may happen. Call your doctor right away if you have any fever, muscle cramps or stiffness, dizziness, very bad headache, confusion, change in thinking, fast heartbeat, heartbeat that does not feel normal, or are sweating a lot.

What are some other side effects of carbidopa?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Dizziness.
• Headache.
• Dry mouth.
• Feeling sleepy.
• Not able to sleep.
• Upset stomach or throwing up.
• Change in taste.
• Constipation.
• Diarrhea.
• Not hungry.
• Strange or odd dreams.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If overdose is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out carbidopa?

• Store at room temperature.
• Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

Consumer information use and disclaimer

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about carbidopa, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take carbidopa or any other medicine. Only the healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for a specific patient. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this medicine. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to carbidopa. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from the healthcare provider. You must talk with the healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this medicine.