What is Parkinson's Disease?
Parkinson's Disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder of the extrapyramidal nervous system affecting the mobility and control of the skeletal muscular system. Its characteristic features include resting tremor, rigidity, and bradykinetic movements.
Parkinson's disease affects movement, producing motor symptoms. Non-motor symptoms such as autonomic dysfunction, neuropsychiatric problems (mood, cognition, behavior or thought alterations), and sensory and sleep difficulties, are also common.
Nerve cells use a brain chemical called dopamine to help control muscle movement. Parkinson's disease occurs when the nerve cells in the brain that make dopamine are slowly destroyed. Levodopa crosses the protective blood–brain barrier, whereas dopamine itself cannot. Once Levodopa has entered the central nervous system, it is converted to dopamine via the action of a naturally occurring enzyme called DOPA decarboxylase (DDC). Generic Sinemet (Syndopa), manufactured by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. is a combination of carbidopa and levodopa and is used to treat Parkinson's disease. Use of carbidopa also increases the quantity of Levodopa in the bloodstream that is available to enter the brain.
Generic Sinemet (Syndopa Tablets) – Product Information
Generic Sinemet (Syndopa Tablets) is used in the treatment of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, postencephalitic parkinsonism, and symptomatic parkinsonism (parkinsonism-like symptoms) which may follow injury to the nervous system by carbon monoxide intoxication and/or manganese intoxication. Generic Sinemet is indicated in these conditions to permit the administration of lower doses of levodopa with reduced nausea and vomiting, with more rapid dosage titration, with a somewhat smoother response, and with supplemental pyridoxine (vitamin B6).
Generic Sinemet Tablets - Active Ingredients
The active ingredient present in Generic Sinemet Tablets (Syndopa Tablets) is Carbidopa and Levodopa. Generic Sinemet (Syndopa Tablets) is supplied as tablets in four strengths:
Syndopa 110 mg (Levodopa 100mg & Carbidopa 10mg) or Generic Sinemet 10-100
Syndopa 125 mg (Levodopa 100mg & Carbidopa 25mg) or Generic Sinemet 25-100
Syndopa 250 mg (Levodopa 200mg & Carbidopa 50mg) or Generic Sinemet 50-250
Syndopa 275 mg (Levodopa 250mg & Carbidopa 25mg) or Generic Sinemet 25-250
Generic Sinemet Tablets - Contraindications
Generic Sinemet is contraindicated in patients that have a hypersensitivity to Carbidopa or Levodopa or any inactive component of this drug, and in patients with narrow-angle glaucoma. Because levodopa may activate a malignant melanoma, Generic Sinemet should not be used in patients with suspicious, undiagnosed skin lesions or a history of melanoma.
Nonselective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors are contraindicated for use with Generic Sinemet. These inhibitors must be discontinued at least two weeks prior to initiating therapy with Generic Sinemet.
Generic Sinemet (Syndopa Tablets) - Storage Instructions
Keep in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Keep your tablets at room temperature in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C . Keep away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed.
Generic Sinemet (Syndopa Tablets) - Dosage
The recommended dosage of is as follows:
Syndopa 110 mg (Levodopa 100mg & Carbidopa 10mg):
The recommended starting dosage of Generic Sinemet 10-100 (Levodopa 100mg & Carbidopa 10mg) is one tablet three or four times a day. However, this will not provide an adequate amount of carbidopa for many patients. Dosage may be increased by one tablet every day or every other day until a total of eight tablets (2 tablets four times a day) is reached.
Syndopa 110 mg (Levodopa 100mg & Carbidopa 10mg):
The recommended starting dosage of Generic Sinemet 10-100 (Levodopa 100mg & Carbidopa 10mg) is one tablet three or four times a day. However, this will not provide an adequate amount of carbidopa for many patients. Dosage may be increased by one tablet every day or every other day until a total of eight tablets (2 tablets four times a day) is reached.
Generic Sinemet Tablets - Side effects
The side effects of Generic Sinemet Tablets are given below:
The most common adverse effects of Generic Sinemet are dyskinesias including choreiform, dystonic, and other involuntary movements and nausea. Muscle twitching and blepharospasm may be taken as early signs to consider reduction. Other adverse effects reported in clinical trials or in post-marketing experience are as follows:
Body as a whole:
syncope, chest pain, anorexia. Cardiovascular: cardiac irregularities and/or palpitation, orthostatic effects including hypotensive episodes, hypertension, phlebitis.
Gastrointestinal:
vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, development of duodenal ulcer, diarrhoea, dark saliva. Haematologic: leukopenia, haemolytic and non-haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis.
Hypersensitivity:
angioedema, urticaria, pruritus, Henoch-Schonlein purpura. Nervous System/Psychiatric: neuroleptic malignant syndrome, bradykinetic episodes (the "on-off" phenomenon), dizziness, somnolence including very rarely excessive daytime somnolence and sudden sleep onset episodes, paresthesia, psychotic episodes including delusions, hallucinations and paranoid ideation, depression with or without development of suicidal tendencies, dementia, dream abnormalities, agitation, confusion.
Patients treated with dopamine agonists for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease, especially at high doses, have been reported as exhibiting signs of pathological gambling, increased libido and hypersexuality. These effects are generally reversible upon reduction of the dose or treatment discontinuation.
Respiratory:
dyspnoea.
Skin:
alopecia, rash, dark sweat.
Urogenital:
dark urine. Rarely convulsions have occurred;
Other adverse effects that have been reported with Levodopa or Levodopa/Carbidopa combinations and may be potential adverse effects with Generic Sinemet are listed below:
Nervous System/Psychiatric:
asthenia, decreased mental acuity, disorientation, ataxia, numbness, increased hand tremor, muscle cramps, trismus, activation of latent Horner's syndrome, insomnia, anxiety, euphoria, falling and gait abnormalities.
Gastrointestinal:
dyspepsia, dry mouth, bitter taste, sialorrhoea, dysphagia, bruxism, hiccups, abdominal pain and distress, constipation, flatulence, burning sensation of tongue.
Metabolic: weight gain or loss, oedema.
Skin:
flushing, increased sweating, pigmentation of teeth and skin.
Urogenital:
urinary retention, urinary incontinence, priapism.
Special senses:
diplopia, blurred vision, dilated pupils, oculogyric crises.
Miscellaneous:
weakness, faintness, fatigue, headache, hoarseness, malaise, hot flashes, sense of stimulation, bizarre breathing patterns, malignant melanoma.
Generic Sinemet Tablets - More Details
For more details please read the Prescribing Information or watch the presentation below:
