Sinemet is recommended for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and Parkinson's syndrome. It is very useful for alleviating Parkinson's syndrome, especially stiffness and bradykinesia. Sinemet is often useful in the treatment of tremors, dysphasia, excessive saliva flow and postural instability, associated with Parkinson's disease or syndrome. When therapeutic response to Levodopa by itself is irregular, and the signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease do not appear in a uniformly controlled manner during the day, the substitution of Sinemet usually proves to be effective in reducing this fluctuation.
By reducing certain side effects produced by the use of Levodopa on it's own. Sinemet enables a greater number of patients to obtain an adequate remission from the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Sinemet is recommended for patients suffering from Parkinson's disease or syndrome, who have been taking Vitamin complexes containing B6.
Directions for Use
Sinemet, a combination of both Carbidopa and Levodopa, is available in tablet form. Each Sinemet tablet contains 25mg Carbidopa and 250mg Levodopa.
General Considerations
The prescribed dosage depends on the individual needs of each patient and this may require an adjustment of either the individual dosage, or the frequency of it's administration. Treatment usually lasts seven days. Studies have shown that the peripheric Dopa-decarboxylase is absorbed by the Carbidopa at a rate of 70-200 mg/ day. Patients who are given less Carbidopa are more likely to suffer nausea and vomiting. Should such an undesired therapeutic effect take place more often with Sinemet than with Levodopa alone, patients should be closely observed during this period of adjustment to the dosage.
Involuntary movement especially can occur more rapidly with Sinemet than with Levodopa. The onset of involuntary movement may require a reduction of the dosage. In certain patients the blepharospasm may be a useful early warning sign of excessive dosage. In the case of general anaesthetic, Sinemet may be continued as long as the patient is allowed to take liquids and medicines by mouth. If treatment is temporally interrupted, the regular daily dosage can be administered as soon as the patient is able to take medicine orally.
Patients who are Not Receiving Levodopa Treatment
The usual dosage is a half tablet of Sinemet once or twice per day. A half tablet may increase this dosage either daily or on alternative days, until optimum results are obtained.
Patients Being Treated with Levodopa
Levodopa treatment must be interrupted at least 12 hours (24 hours for delayed action Levodopa preparations), prior to starting Sinemet treatment. It should be taken into account that the daily dosage of Sinemet provides approximately 20% of the previous Levodopa dosage. The recommended initial dosage for the majority of patients who take more than 1500mg of Levodopa is one Sinemet tablet three or four times daily. (For example, if the patient takes 4g of Levodopa per day, he should not exceed 3 tablets of Sinemet per day). Patients taking Levodopa together with another decarboxylase inhibitor should stop treatment at least 12 hours before beginning Sinemet treatment. We strongly recommend commencing Sinemet treatment in order to supply the same amount of Levodopa contained in the Levodopa/ decarboxylase inhibitors used previously.
Follow up Treatment
The majority of patients can continue with a dosage of 3 to 6 tablets per day. There is no benefit to be had by increasing the dosage of Carbidopa beyond 8 tablets of Sinemet 25-250 per day, and the patient is warned against exceeding this maximum dosage. Some patients may need a further dosage of Levodopa. Results show that other anti-Parkinson medication (except Levodopa) may be continued, although the dosage may need to be adjusted.
Contra-Indications
Sinemet is not recommended for patients with a known hypersensitivity to this product, who suffer from close angle glaucoma, or who are in the acute phase of myocardial infarction. Since Levodopa can also activate malignant melanoma, it must not be used by patients with suspicious looking undiagnosed cutaneous lesions, or with amanuensis of melanoma. Monoamine Oxydase A inhibitors and Sinemet should not be taken at the same time, and treatment with this inhibitor should be interrupted at least two weeks prior to beginning Sinemet treatment. This product should not be taken by patients younger than 18 years of age, during pregnancy or by nursing mothers.
Precautions
Sinemet can be taken by patients who have undergone the treatment of Levodopa on it's own, but such treatment of Levodopa must be interrupted at least 12 hours before starting Sinemet. Sinemet must be substituted by a posology which supplies approximately 20% of the Levodopa used previously (see directions for use). Patients being treated with Sinemet must avoid taking additional dosages of Levodopa, except under a doctor's strict supervision.
Sinemet is not recommended for the treatment of medicinal drug induced extrapyramidal reactions. Patients known for psychotic behavior or amanuensis should be treated with caution. As with Levodopa, Sinemet may cause involuntary movements and mental disturbances. Patients with a history of serious involuntary movements and psychotic conduct when treated with Levodopa should be closely watched when Sinemet substitutes this. It is thought that such reactions are due to an increase in cerebral Dopamine following the administration of Levodopa and that the use of Sinemet may cause a relapse.
All patients should be carefully supervised regarding the development of mental modifications, depression and suicidal tendencies, or other such serious antisocial behavior. The most rapid appearance of high Dopamine levels obtained with Sinemet treatment compared to that of Levodopa alone might cause premature problems of movement. Such disturbances require a reduction in the dosage of Sinemet.
Sinemet must be administered with care to asthma, renal, hepatic and endocrine disorders. Attention should be paid to the administration of Sinemet to patients who have a history of arrhythmias. In such patients, cardial functions must be controlled with particular care during the period of dosage adjustment. As with Levodopa, there is a chance of hemorrhaging with patients with a history of peptic ulcers. A complex symptomatology has been reported which is similar to the malignant neuroleptic syndrome with muscular stiffness, high body temperature, mental modifications and the increase in the silky creatine phosphate when the anti- Parkinson treatment is suddenly stopped. Thus the patient should be attentively observed when the Sinemet dosage is suddenly reduced or halted, especially if the patient is being treated with care.
As with Levodopa, in the case of prolonged treatment, it is wise to undergo periodic tests, regarding the haematic formula and the hepatic, renal and cardiocirculatory functions. Patients with chronic open angle glaucoma can be treated with caution with Sinemet, providing intra-ocular pressure is controlled and the patient is kept under close observation for signs of change during the treatment.
Side Effects
Side effects occurring to patients being treated with Sinemet are related to the central neuropharmacological activity of Dopamine. These can usually be diminished by a reduced dosage. The most common are- brusque, distonic movements and/ or other involuntary movements. Muscular fibrillation and blepharospasm can be considered as warning signs to reduce medication.
While Carbidopa allows for a higher Levodopa content in the Brain, difficulty in movement has been seen with Sinemet at a lower dosage than preparations containing only L-Dopa.
Other serious side effects are mental alterations, including tendencies towards paranoia and psychotic behavior, depression accompanied or not by suicidal tendencies, dementia. Convulsions are so rare as to not be considered directly relating to Sinemet. Another common but none the less unappealing side effect is nausea. Other less frequent side effects are cardia unevenness and/ or palpitations, cases of orthostatic, hypertension, bradykinesia (the on/ off phenomenon), anorexia, vomiting and vertigo.
Rare cases have been reported of gastrointestinal hemorrhaging, duodenal ulcer, hypertension, phlebitis, leucopenia, agranulcytosis, Thrombocytopenia, hemolytic and non hemolytic anemia. Positive Comb's Tests have been carried out both with Sinemet and with Levodopa on it's own.
Lab tests have shown the following abnormalities- - Alkaline phosphates, SGOT, SGPT, lactic- dehyrogenase, bilirubin, azotaemia, iodine left in protein.
Other side effects described in conjunction with Levodopa are the following- -
Psychiatric: Ataxia, fainting, increased trembling of the hands, muscular spasms, muscular cramp, trismus, activation of a latent hroner syndrome.
Gastrointestinal- Constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain and discomfort, meteorism, hiccups, excess flow of saliva, bitter taste in the mouth, dryness of the faeces, burning feeling in the tongue, dysphasia, teeth grinding.
Dermatological- Hot flushes, increased and/ or dark perspiration, alopecia, skin eruptions.
Urogenital- Urine retention, incontinence, dark urine, priapism, haematuria.
Sense Organs- Blurred vision, diplopia, dilated pupils, oculogyric problems.
Metabolism- Weight loss, oedema.
Others- Weakness, listlessness, fatigue, headaches, hoarseness, uneasiness, nervousness, irregular breathing rate, malignant neuroleptic syndrome.
If you take too much - Overdose
In the case of severe overdose, the treatment is basically the same as with severe overdose with treatment of Levodopa used alone. General first-aid measures should be carried out in addition to immediate gastric lavage. The application of liquid intravenously must be measured and air passages must be kept clear. Adequate electrocardiograph control should be carried out to permit the prompt detection of the development of the arrhythmia. The possibility that the patient may have taken another medication at the same time as Sinemet should be taken into account. As yet, there has been no research carried out regarding dialysis and thus it's possible application in the case of overdose is unknown. Vitamin B6 will not affect the action of Sinemet.
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