Carbidopa/Levodopa Orifarm
Carbidopa/Levodopa Orifarm is a medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease by reducing symptoms like slow movements, stiffness, and tremors.
Form
tabletti
Strength
12.5 mg / 50 mg
Active Ingredient
Carbidopa monohydrate
Manufacturer
Orifarm Healthcare A/S
How to Use
Dosage
If you have not taken levodopa before, the usual starting dose is one 12.5 mg/50 mg tablet three or four times daily, or one 25 mg/100 mg tablet three times daily. Your doctor will adjust your dose individually.
Method
Take the tablets by mouth, regularly as prescribed by your doctor. Avoid taking with heavy protein meals.
Important
Your doctor will determine your maximum daily dose.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Urinary tract infections
- •Loss of appetite
- •Feeling confused, dizzy, or sleepy, nightmares, tiredness, insomnia, feeling good (euphoria), memory problems, feeling stimulated, abnormal dreams
- •Uncontrolled movements (dyskinesia), sudden involuntary movements (chorea), muscle twitches (dystonia), 'on-off' effects where Parkinson's symptoms change suddenly, slow movements during 'on-off' periods
- •Low blood pressure when standing up too quickly (orthostatic hypotension), leading to dizziness or fainting, sudden loss of consciousness
- •Nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, bitter taste
- •Weight loss or gain
- •Problems with muscle coordination (ataxia), increased hand tremors
- •High blood pressure
- •Hoarseness, chest pain
- •Constipation, diarrhea, gas, increased salivation, difficulty swallowing
- •Swelling (edema)
- •Muscle cramps, dark urine
- •Weakness (asthenia), feeling unwell (malaise), hot flashes
RARE
- •Serious blood disorders (e.g., low white blood cells making you prone to infections, anemia, low platelets causing bruising and bleeding)
- •Agitation, anxiety, difficulty thinking, confusion, headache, increased sexual desire, numbness, seizures/convulsions, severe mental illness with loss of control over your actions/behavior
- •Tingling, prickling, itching without a clear cause
- •Increased tendency to fall, walking problems, jaw lock
- •Blurred vision, muscle spasms around the eye (may be a sign of overdose), double vision, dilated pupils, reduced eye movements
- •Inflammation of veins
- •Shortness of breath, abnormal breathing patterns
- •Digestive problems (fullness in upper abdomen, upper abdominal pain, belching, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, stomach/intestinal pain, dark saliva, teeth grinding, hiccups, stomach/intestinal bleeding, burning tongue, duodenal ulcers)
- •Skin rash with severe itching and hives, itching, facial redness, hair loss, increased sweating, dark sweat
- •Allergy-related bleeding in the skin and gut wall in children (Henoch-Schönlein purpura)
- •Inability to urinate, involuntary urination, persistent erection (priapism)
- •Drowsiness and constant tiredness during the day, or sudden sleep attacks
- •Compulsive urge to take higher doses of Carbidopa/Levodopa Orifarm than needed for motor control (dopamine dysregulation syndrome); inability to resist harmful urges like excessive gambling, increased sexual interest, uncontrolled shopping/spending, or binge eating/compulsive eating.
Important Warnings
- Do not take if you are allergic to carbidopa, levodopa, or any other ingredient in this medicine.
- Do not take if you have ever had skin cancer or suspicious moles that a doctor has not checked.
- Stop taking MAO inhibitors for depression at least two weeks before starting this medicine.
- Do not take if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, a tumor in your adrenal gland (pheochromocytoma), overactive thyroid or adrenal glands, or severe heart disease.
- Stop and seek immediate medical help if you have an allergic reaction (hives, itching, rash, swelling of face/lips/tongue/throat leading to breathing/swallowing difficulties), chest pain, irregular heartbeat, or bleeding from the intestine (blood in stool or dark stool).
Show 1 more warnings
- Stop and seek immediate medical help if you have blood problems (pale skin, tiredness, fever, sore throat, easy bruising, prolonged bleeding), severe muscle stiffness with high fever, sweating, increased saliva and confusion (neuroleptic malignant syndrome), mental changes (hallucinations, delusions, depression, suicidal thoughts), seizures, or a serious blood disorder with high fever, sore throat, and mouth sores.
Use in Elderly Patients
Category A
Suitable for older adults. Consider potential interactions especially with antipsychotics and metoclopramide. (updated 6.10.2025)